you only need a license to broadcast legally, if you're trying to over-throw a government, it would seem unlikely that you'd be too worried about doing it legally.

HAM radio is interesting, because it is the most decentralized form of communications. Cell phones are internet and land lines are all routed through some corporation or government entity. HAM radio relies only on RF propagation. Repeaters are another matter, they can be knocked out, but a decent HF tx will get you a good distance.