Wisconsin
Governor Signs Amateur Antenna Bill
 (L-R) Wisconsin SGL Jim Lackore, AD9X;
Wisconsin SEC Stan Kaplan, WB9RQR; Gov Scott McCallum; Wisconsin SM Don
Michalski, W9IXG; Ozaukee County Supervisor Gus Wirth Jr, W9BTN; and former Rep
Representative Joan Wade. [Joe Sienkiewicz, W9ER, Photo]
|
NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 3, 2002--Wisconsin Gov
Scott McCallum this week signed AB368, the Amateur Radio FCC PRB-1 Amateur Radio Antenna
Protection Act into law in that state. The governor's stroke of the
pen April 2 makes the Badger State the 16th to incorporate the language of the
limited federal preemption known as PRB-1 into its statutes. The new law
becomes effective immediately.
"After summarizing the contents of the law,
Gov McCallum made a special point of noting the important role that Wisconsin
hams play in providing emergency and public communication support throughout
the state," said ARRL Wisconsin Section Government Liaison Jim Lackore, AD9X, who was present at the signing. The Amateur Radio antenna bill was one of six
pieces of legislation that McCallum signed into law April 2 during a ceremony
at the Oshkosh Senior Center.
AB 368 mirrors the language of the limited federal preemption. It would
require that ordinances or resolutions affecting the placement, screening or
height of Amateur Radio antennas or support structures have a "reasonable and
clearly defined aesthetic, public health or safety objective." Such an
ordinance or resolution also must represent "the minimum practical regulation"
necessary to accomplish the locality's objectives and must reasonably
accommodate Amateur Radio communication.
On hand in addition to Lackore as the
governor signed the measure were Wisconsin Section Manager Don Michalski,
W9IXG; Wisconsin Section Emergency Coordinator Dr. Stan Kaplan, WB9RQR; Ozaukee
County Supervisor and Republican official Gus Wirth Jr, W9BTN; and the original
sponsor of AB368, former Wisconsin State Rep Joan Wade, who credited the
efforts of the late Jim Romelfanger, K9ZZ, in getting the bill through the
legislature.
Romelfanger, a Wisconsin Amateur Radio
activist, ARRL Public Information Coordinator and editor of the Badger State
Smoke Signals ham radio newspaper, died December 22. He worked
closely with Wade's office to promote introduction of PRB-1 legislation for
several years, and Michalski has characterized passage of the measure "a
tribute" to Romelfanger.
Michalski thanked Lackore for teaming with
Romelfanger and for answering "make-or-break" questions from the governor's
review panel during the successful campaign. Noting that as few as 10% of bills
introduced are ever enacted, Michalski said one of the reasons for the passage
of AB368 was a strong team and significant support from Wisconsin's Amateur
Radio community. "In fact, Gov McCallum, in his comments to the audience,
acknowledged that hundreds of amateurs were in support of this bill at every
step in the process," Michalski said. "Our deep appreciation to all of you who
took the time to contact your legislators. The system works!"
A PRB-1 measure has been under consideration
in Tennessee, and similar measures have been proposed for
introduction in other states. More information on antenna regulation is
available on the ARRL
Antenna Restrictions Web page. Links to Wisconsin Assembly Bill 368 (AB-368) and Wisconsin Act 50 are available on the ARRL State Statues Web page.
Page last modified: 02:42 PM, 05 Apr 2002 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2002, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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