(a) The Arkansas Department of Transportation is authorized to post signs along the public streets and highways of Arkansas to inform persons who are licensed amateur radio operators of the existence of a high frequency radio repeater within a specific local area, provided such signs do not conflict with any rules or regulations of the United States Department of Transportation or the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(b)
(1) The Arkansas Department of Transportation is authorized to develop and adopt the appropriate signs showing “TWO-METER RADIO REPEATER AREA” or “AMATEUR RADIO FREQUENCY MONITORED” for use in the designated areas along the public streets and highways under its jurisdiction.
(2) The signs may include the radio frequency of these local repeaters or the frequency being monitored by local radios.
(3)
(A) Any local amateur radio operators or any amateur radio club wishing to participate in this program shall be responsible for the costs of preparing and purchasing these signs.
(B)
(i) The Arkansas Department of Transportation is authorized to enter into an agreement with the participants to recover those costs.
(ii) The Arkansas Department of Transportation is authorized to prepare and furnish the signs to the local participating radio clubs or operators at cost.
(iii) The Arkansas Department of Transportation is further authorized to erect and maintain the signs at no cost to the local radio clubs or operators.
(c)
(1) The Arkansas Department of Transportation is authorized to contact all local amateur radio operators and any amateur radio clubs in Arkansas to inform them of this service.
(2) Any amateur radio operator or radio club that wishes to participate in this program shall notify the Arkansas Department of Transportation of its interest and shall inform the Arkansas Department of Transportation of the radio frequencies which are monitored in its immediate area and the time periods during which they are monitored.
(d)
(1) The Arkansas Department of Transportation shall ensure the signs correlate with and, so far as possible, conform to the system of traffic-control devices that are currently in use by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
(2) The Arkansas Department of Transportation is authorized to erect the signs and review, at least biennially, all areas with signs within its jurisdiction to ensure the area still qualifies for having the signs posted.
(e) The Director of State Highways and Transportation shall have the authority to promulgate any necessary rules to implement this section and establish any conditions and guidelines for participation by any local amateur radio operators or clubs.