Ham Radio & the Government Shutdown: POTA Rules You Must Know

🚨 Government Shutdown & Parks on the Air (POTA) Explained The U.S. government has officially entered a shutdown — and that raises a big question for ham radio operators: Can you still activate Parks on the Air during a shutdown? In this video, I break down: ✅ What happens to National Parks when funding lapses ✅ The Department of the Interior’s official guidance ✅ How the POTA rulebook defines “open” vs. “closed” parks ✅ Real-world examples (National Mall vs. Yellowstone) Whether you’re planning a weekend activation or curious how federal closures impact ham radio operations, this guide will help you navigate shutdown rules and avoid problems in the field. ⚠️ Important: This is not legal advice. If a park is closed, it’s closed. Don’t trespass. Always follow official guidance. 📌 Chapters: 0:00 – Cold Open: Government Shutdown Hits 0:25 – Intro + The Big Question: Will POTA Be Affected? 1:10 – Important Disclaimer: Safety & Legal Notice 1:45 – Section 1: What a Shutdown Means for Parks 3:05 – Section 2: Department of the Interior’s Rules 5:00 – Section 3: POTA Rulebook Breakdown 7:15 – Section 4: Real Examples (Mall, Yellowstone, Forests) 8:50 – Bottom Line: When POTA is Eligible vs. Closed 9:40 – Outro + Call to Action 🔔 Subscribe for more ham radio news, updates, and POTA tips: [Your Channel Link] 👍 Like this video if you found it helpful 💬 Comment: Will a shutdown change your POTA activation plans? ⬇️GEAR I USE⬇️ –––––––––––––––––––– ★★As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.★★ 🛒Many Things I Use Can Be Found In My Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/ki5irehamradio 🥾Check Out My My Ultra Portable POTA Kit: https://www.amazon.com/shop/ki5irehamradio/list/1S8JOQ9AJ4JQR –––––––––––––––––––– ⬇️LINKS TO OTHER STUFF⬇️ ★★All links are affiliate links where possible. As an affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. These links help support the channel and make videos like this possible.★★ 📡ABR Industries (Affiliate): https://abrind.com/?sld=ki5irehamradio Use code "ki5irehamradio10" on qualifying purchases. 📡Alpha Antenna (Affiliate): https://www.alphaantenna.com/?aff=22 Using this link when ordering from Alpha Antenna helps support the channel. 📡Bridgecom Systems (Affiliate): https://www.bridgecomsystems.com/?ref=ki5irehamradio Using this link when ordering from Bridgecom helps support the channel. 📡Ham Radio Prep (Affiliate): hamradioprep.com Use code "KI5IRE" to save 10% on qualifying purchases. 📡Radioddity (Affiliate): https://www.radioddity.com/?ref=ki5irehamradio Save $15 on qualifying purchases by using coupon code "KI5IRE" at checkout. 🌐The Ham Radio Logging Software I Use in the Shack (Only available for MacOS and iOS): https://www.dl2rum.de/rumsoft/RUMLog.html 🌐The Ham Radio Logging Software I Use Portable/POTA/SOTA: https://ham2k.com/apps/polo/ 🎵The Music I Use In Most of My Videos (Non-Affiliate): https://artlist.io/ ⬇️FOLLOW ME ON OTHER PLATFORMS⬇️ 🌎My Blog: https://ki5ire.weebly.com 🎥Subscribe for More Content: youtube.com/@HamRadioHQ2 🌎KI5IRE Ham Radio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HamRadioHQ 📸Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HamRadioHQ/ 📡X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/KI5IRE 📡Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ki5ire-ham-radio 📡Join the KI5IRE Ham Radio Discord: https://discord.gg/mpqnu58eJz #HamRadio #ParksOnTheAir #GovernmentShutdown #POTA