Date: November 2022
Amount: $37,700

RICOMU (Rhode Island Communications Unit), callsign WA1USA, is an ARRL-affiliated club and 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that serves as Auxiliary Communications for the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA).

This grant is an extension to a previous grant to this organization. The original grant allowed RICOMU to deploy a statewide, IP-based, RF mesh network that is completely independent of the commercial internet on the state’s fire lookout towers. This network is used to monitor the area for weather and forest fires, as well as provide emergency communications. These additional funds will allow RICOMU to weatherproof the observation cabs on the towers and update the electrical service to two of the three towers.

Learn more at: http://www.wa1usa.club.