Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 Introduced
 Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) has introduced The Amateur
Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 in the 109th Congress. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Feb 25, 2005--At the urging of the ARRL,
Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) has introduced The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of
2005 into the US House of Representatives. The bill, designated HR 691, has
been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee where Bilirakis serves
as vice chairman. Like previous versions of the proposal, the current measure would
require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to the Amateur
Radio and Amateur-Satellite services in the event of reallocation to other
services of primary amateur spectrum or the diminution of secondary amateur
spectrum. The bill also would cover additional allocations within Amateur Radio
bands that "would substantially reduce" their utility to Amateur Service
licensees. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, expressed his appreciation to
Bilirakis this week.
"As president of the American Radio League and on behalf
of the more than 670,000 federally licensed Amateur Radio operators throughout
the country, I would like to thank you for once again sponsoring the 'Amateur
Radio Spectrum Protection Act,'" Haynie told the Florida Republican. "As you
know, this legislation is vital for ensuring that the Amateur Radio Service,
the only 100-percent fail safe emergency communication capability, remains a
viable public safety option."
HR 691 references Amateur Radio's role in providing
"voluntary, noncommercial radio service, particularly emergency
communications," and it points out that hams have "consistently and reliably"
provided communication support in the event of emergencies and disasters
including tornadoes and hurricanes, chemical spills, forest fires and rail
accidents. As the measure notes, FCC actions already have led to the loss of at
least 107 MHz of spectrum to radio amateurs.
Rep Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) has signed on as the bill's
first co-sponsor. Bartlett chairs the Projection Forces Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee. One of three
scientists in the 109th Congress, Bartlett also is a senior member of the House
Science Committee.
Efforts now will focus on attracting additional cosponsors
for the legislation. The League is encouraging members to urge their congressional
representatives to sign aboard HR 691. A sample letter
is available on the ARRL Web site. More than 100 lawmakers agreed to cosponsor
similar legislation in the 108th Congress, where it was designated HR 713. Work
is proceeding to have identical legislation introduced in the US Senate.
For general guidance on the best methods of contacting
your members of Congress, see "Communicating with
Congress," by Derek Riker, KB3JLF, on the ARRL Web site.
Page last modified: 04:13 PM, 01 Mar 2005 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2005, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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