Date: October 2025
Amount: $19,186

The South Mountain Radio Amateurs (SMRA) are carrying out a two year educational program that will train 100 new amateur radio operators to increase involvement with the hobby across Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The project offers recurring Technician licensing courses at county libraries and the Department of Public Safety, providing students with study materials, exam fee support, and a VHF/UHF handheld radio once licensed. New operators are encouraged to stay active through mentoring, weekly nets, club activities, and EMCOMM focused groups.

The project also upgrades SMRA’s ability to support county emergency services with the addition of VHF/UHF/DMR equipment and an HF transceiver. These radios expand local and long distance communication options, enabling digital voice, APRS and GPS data, text messaging, WinLink connectivity, and NBEMS digital modes. Together, the training program and equipment improvements increase the region’s communication capabilities while expanding public access to amateur radio through library based courses and community outreach.

Learn more at https://n3twt.org/.