What is the Amateur Radio Service?
The Amateur Radio Service is licensed by national telecommunications authorities (the FCC, in the United States), and it is charged with providing a pool of technical experts and trained communicators ready to serve the nation in time of need. Hams also have a unique ability to foster international goodwill through people-to-people contacts, as people from all walks of life, from school kids to kings, chat as equals on a daily basis.
Hams are renowned for their ability to set up an emergency communications infrastructure after a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake. When regular communications channels are clogged or broken down after a disaster, Hams step in to create a network of communicators that can facilitate relief for the stricken area.
As with many "serious" aspects of life, the path to learning the tricks of the trade can be a lot of fun. Ham radio operators enjoy experimentation with electronics, antennas, and microphones, develop and communicate via computer-based digital communications modes, participate in contests that enhance both station performance and operating ability, and, day in and day out, just enjoy chatting with each other over the stations they've created.