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HAPPENINGS RICK LINDQUIST, WW1ME, WW1ME ARRL. ORG  AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT
INTRODUCED IN US SENATE  INTRODUCTION OF S. 1534 REPRESENTS ANOTHER
MILESTONE FOR PARITY BILL.  THE AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT OF 2017 WAS
INTRODUCED IN THE US SENATE ON JULY 12, MARKING ANOTHER STEP FORWARD FOR
THIS LANDMARK LEGISLATION.  SENATORS ROGER WICKER, R MS AND RICHARD
BLUMENTHAL D CT WERE THE SENATE SPONSORS.  THE MEASURE WILL, FOR THE FIRST
TIME, GUARANTEE ALL RADIO AMATEURS LIVING IN DEED RESTRICTED COMMUNITIES
GOVERNED BY A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION HOA OR SUBJECT TO ANY PRIVATE LAND USE
REGULATIONS, THE RIGHT TO ERECT AND MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE OUTDOOR ANTENNAS AT
THEIR HOMES.  THE SENATE BILL, S. 1534, IS IDENTICAL TO H. R. 555, WHICH
PASSED THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN JANUARY.  AMATEUR RADIO CONTINUES
TO BE A CRITICAL PART OF OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS, WICKER
SAID.  MISSISSIPPIANS LEARNED FIRSTHAND AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA HOW AMATEUR
RADIO OPERATORS CAN PROVIDE A RESILIENT, DISTRIBUTED NETWORK TO FIRST
RESPONDERS AND DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS WHEN OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
TOOLS FAIL.  AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS PROVIDE AN INVALUABLE SERVICE TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES BY ASSISTING LOCAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION EFFORTS WHEN
DISASTERS OCCUR AND MAIN LINES ARE DOWN, BLUMENTHAL SAID.  THIS BIPARTISAN
MEASURE ENSURES THAT OPERATORS HAVE ACCESS TO THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO
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