EG>Most interesting.  I bet you're right on the emergency part.  This 
uggests
SD> t
  >me that if, say, I (Director) had a license, then leaders in the program
SD> need
  >to xmit during an emergency, there might not be any problem.  I like the
SD> idea
  >I presume I should check with the FCC at some level?
SD>
SD> That is similar to what we can do in Washington...  If we are on a 
mission,
SD> we are not required to be licensed to broadcast..
SD>
You might want to rethink this position.  If I remember this thread deals 
ith
use of Amateur Radio facilities.  My understanding is that unlicensed use of
these facilities is indeed allowable for an emergency.  In this context, this
means that the SPECIFIC emergency transmission being made is absolutely
required to protect life or property from IMMEDIATE harm.  Further, you
may be required to prove that all other methods of communication potentially
available were used before resorting to unlicensed operation.  In short,
the law is intended to permit owners of equipment to use their facilities in
excess of their authorizations only when it is absolutely necessary, not just
cost effective.
It occurs to me that setting up dependency on such a system implies that one
intends to rely solely on it to the exclusion of any other available
alternatives.  The thread of this conversation has indicated that cellular,
GMRS, Business, CB, and other alternatives have been considered and dismissed
as too expensive.  Unfortunately, expensive tends to go with communications.
Fire Departments, Police Departments, SAR Teams, and other organizations 
pend
vast sums of money for reliable and dependable communications systems.
With a history and demonstrated plan to rely solely on unlicensed operation,
it would be interesting to go before the FCC defending the position that your
action was justified.  One would be hard pressed to explain why with only one
member of your party legally entitled to operate the radios, several people
were carrying radios they could not legally operate (backups???).
Perhaps a more workable solution would be to have your organization set up
a commo group as part of the varsity sport.  People enrolled in the sport
would then be required to serve their turn as part of the commo group.  This
group would position itself such that they could maintain communications
with the ongoing activity from vehicles or campsites or whatever and attain
quick communications with the outside world via phone, etc.  This could be
readily accomplished with business band radios properly licensed under FCC
Part 90.  I would consider this an essential skill for operating the program
you describe every bit as much as map reading, land navigation, survival,
and similar skills are.
I can assure you that your students are capable of executing such a program.
Civil Air Patrol Cadets (ages 13 and up) routinely operate the mission
communications on Air Force funded actual search missions.  While not always
as much fun as hiking and such, it is an one link to providing the
students left in your care adequate protection during your activities.
On another point, one can also wonder if the cost is too excessive.  Consider
the cost of one successful (or unsuccessful) lawsuit.  The old saw about an
ounce of prevention is very accurate here.  You might what to chat with your
schools legal folks about this one.  They might help you in convincing your
funding sources that it is far cheaper to provide adequate communications.
 -- SPEED 1.20 [NR]: ... Support SAR! Crash somewhere!
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