Ham Radio Antenna Bills Introduced in Two Northeast States
NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 11, 2005--Amateur Radio antenna
legislation has been proposed in New Jersey and Connecticut. Introduced January
10, the New Jersey measure, Assembly Bill 3641 (A3641) is
sponsored by District 22 Assemblywoman Linda Stender. It's virtually identical
to a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Matthew Ahearn, KB2PNN, that failed to make
it through the state's last legislative session. The new legislation would
incorporate the essence of the limited federal preemption known as PRB-1 into
the Garden State's law books. Northern New Jersey ARRL Section Manager Bill
Hudzik, W2UDT, said the state's PRB-1 group plans to meet with lawmakers this
month in Trenton.
"Please remember, the bill's passage is not a given, and
we all must continue to put Amateur Radio in the best possible light--as many
clubs did during this past Field Day--whenever we can," Hudzik exhorted members
on the NNJ Section Web
site. "And there will continue to be opposition from local governments who may
view the bill as a threat to home rule." Hudzik thanked Bob Bednard, KA8SAF,
with helping to coordinate the bill's introduction with Stender's office.
ARRL Southern New Jersey SM Jean Priestley, KA2YKN, also
alerted her section's members via the SNJ Section Web site. "We are
back in business and need to work on developing cosponsors and supporters," she
said. "There is lots of work to do on this in the coming year, so sharpen those
pencils."
SB 92 has been referred to the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Energy and Technology. The proposed law would prohibit municipalities from
adopting zoning ordinances that prohibit construction or use of antenna
structures by Amateur Radio operators. It also would require that any
application fees be in line with those generally assessed for residential
neighborhood variances. The New Jersey bill also would prevent localities
assessing applicants for legal, technical or other consultation or advisory
expenses incurred by any agency evaluating an antenna support structure
application.
In Connecticut's General Assembly, an antenna bill has
been introduced in the Senate by 6th District Sen Donald J. DeFronzo. If
approved by the Senate and House of Representatives, the measure, Senate Bill
No 92 (SB 92),
would require municipal regulation of Amateur Radio antenna structures to
comply with the limitations on local regulation spelled out in PRB-1.
"To allow amateur radio station
antenna structures to be erected at proper heights and dimensions to
accommodate amateur radio communication and otherwise reasonably accommodate
amateur radio service communications," says the bill's Statement of Purpose.
S92 has been referred to the Connecticut Senate Committee on Energy and
Technology.
To date, 21 states have adopted
PRB-1 bills, and laws in some of those states include a schedule of minimum
regulatory heights for Amateur Radio antenna structures. A PRB-1 bill has also
been introduced in Vermont, and ARRL anticipates similar measures to be
introduced in other states as legislative sessions get under way around the US.
For more information on PRB-1, visit the ARRL PRB-1 Package page.
Page last modified: 09:26 AM, 12 Jan 2005 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2005, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Previous: IARU Region 3 Chairman Peter Naish, VK2BPN, SK
Next: ARRL Rebuts Denial of Interference from BPL Trial, Decries FCC Inaction
