The Iditarod Trail Committee Board of Directors has finalized a rule on the use of electronic devices for the 2017 sled-dog race.
At their meeting on Friday, October 28th, the decision was made to allow the use of two-way communication devices on the trail, such as cell or satellite phones. This is a change from a previous regulation, that held communication devices on the trail as grounds for disqualification.
In a statement, the board emphasized the changes to Rule 35 were made for the safety of mushers and their dog teams, after concerns over incidents in the 2016 race. The board noted the eight-month discussion for the ruling change included input from competitors, a handful of whom addressed the board again at Friday’s meeting in Anchorage.
Mushers are worried that the updated ruling will challenge the integrity of the race. Reigning Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey started an online petition back in June calling for the board to rewrite their original May 27th ruling on allowing the use of electronic devices. Seavey has addressed his concerns that the new race rule will lead to outside coaching as well as suspicion among competitors.
Friday’s update to Rule 35 explicitly states that the communication devices are not permitted for media purposes unless first approved by the ITC.
In addition to phones, mushers can now carry an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) or similar satellite tracking devices, as well as GPS. But activation on the trail could result in automatic withdrawal from the race.
