Registration is now open for Amateur (“ham” radio) Technician and Extra License courses being offered by the Emergency Services Coordinating Agency (ESCA) in March at Brier City Hall.

The Extra License course will begin on Monday, Mar. 9, and run for 10 weeks. The entry-level Technician course will begin on Monday, Mar. 30, and run for seven consecutive Monday evenings (it is not required to attend every class). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exam for both courses is scheduled for Monday, May 18.

All courses will be held from 7-9 p.m. in Brier City Hall is located at 2901 228^th Street SW in Brier.

The beginner level Technician license is required for entry in the hobby of “ham” radio and is about getting on the air and communication with a region-wide network of ham radio operators for fun or community service. The Extra License is the senior-most license in “ham” radio and offers license holders access to more power output and frequencies required for worldwide communications.

There is no charge for either course. The Technician or Extra class book is available through ESCA at a discounted price of $25 if ordered by Feb. 23. The FCC’s fee for the Technician or Extra License exam is $15 paid to the examiners on the night of the exam.

For more information or to register, contact Course Manager Vickie Fontaine at 425-776-3722 or Vickie@esca1.com.

The ESCA was created by the cities of Brier, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Mill Creek, Mukilteo, Woodinville, and the Town of Woodway to provide city government disaster planning, mitigation, response and recovery services.