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California Antenna Bill Zips through Assembly
NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 11, 2003--Just eight days after being voted out of committee, California's latest effort to pass an Amateur Radio antenna bill--Assembly Bill 1228--this week got the approval of the California Assembly on a 67-0 vote on April 10. The measure's had its first reading in the Senate. The next major step will be a hearing--as yet unscheduled--before the Senate Local Government Committee.
"Excellent news!" was the reaction of ARRL Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD. The bill, introduced February 21 by Assemblyman Bob Dutton (R-63rd), got a unanimous 9-0 favorable vote at an April 2 hearing of the Assembly Committee on Local Government at which ARRL staffer and antenna expert Dean Straw, N6BV--a California resident--testified on behalf of the measure. ARRL Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG, also spoke at the hearing.
Mike Mitchell, W6RW, who's spearheading the Amateur Radio community's effort to promote the bill says AB 1228, now is seeking witnesses for the Senate committee hearing. Straw already has volunteered to appear. AB 1228 marks the first bill sponsored by Dutton--who was elected last November--to reach the Assembly floor.
AB 1228 would incorporate the language of PRB-1 into the statutes of California. The state is home to some 100,000 Amateur Radio licensees--by far the greatest number of any other state and nearly 15 percent of total US licensees. The measure would require any ordinance regulating Amateur Radio antenna structures to not preclude but to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communications, to allow amateur station antenna structures "at heights and dimensions sufficient to accommodate Amateur Radio Service communications" and to constitute "the minimum practicable regulation to accomplish the legitimate purpose of the city or county."
The California legislature approved a nearly identical PRB-1 measure three years ago, but Gov Gray Davis vetoed it. Davis said at the time that he did so because funds for required studies were not included in his budget. The new bill does not carry a price tag.
Utah recently became the latest of 17 states to incorporate the essence of PRB-1 into their laws. A copy of the proposed legislation is available on the California Legislature Web site.
Page last modified: 11:11 AM, 11 Apr 2003 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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