Amateur radio has a role as kind of a communications militia that can be called up in times of emergency, and the ARRL happens to be the most influential voice

Amateur radio has a role as kind of a communications militia that can be called up in times of emergency, and the ARRL happens to be the most influential voice in that community. Aside from the chit-chat and banter, hams regularly take part in emergency drills, trying to locate and contact faint signals, setting up infrastructure to extend the reach of communications, etc.