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 Previous: IARU Eyes Global Coordination of Amateur Radio's BPL/EMC Response |  Next: Interference Complaints Prompt FCC Queries to California Repeater Owners |
 ARRL New York City-Long Island Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D (left), demonstrates Amateur Radio for US Rep Steve Israel (D-NY). [Frank Fallon, N2FF, Photo] |
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 23, 2005--New York Congressman Steve Israel has reintroduced legislation that could make it easier for radio amateurs living in communities with deed covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) to erect suitable antennas. Arkansas Congressman Mike Ross, WD5DVR, signed aboard as an original cosponsor of the "Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act" (HR 3876). ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, who attended Israel's public announcement of the bill September 19 on Long Island, pointed out the Amateur Radio volunteers always fill the gap after other communication systems fail in an emergency or disaster. He notes the bill's introduction comes in the immediate aftermath of positive media coverage of Amateur Radio's response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
"Unfortunately if all new housing developments contain deed restrictions forbidding outside antennas there will probably come a time when there will not be enough ham radio operators to help their neighbors and countrymen," said Fallon. He believes Israel's bill will help to ensure that Amateur Radio will continue to be able to provide emergency communication should a disaster occur.
Fallon, who head up the League's grassroots lobbying
initiative, was on hand for Israel's announcement, which took place at the home
of ARRL New York City-Long Island Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D.
 A reporter for WLNY-TV (Channel 55) interviews Rep Israel about the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2005. [Frank Fallon, N2FF, Photo] |
The one-sentence measure is identical to the text of the CC&R bill that has been introduced in the last two sessions of Congress: "For purposes of the Federal Communications Commission's regulation relating to station antenna structures in the Amateur Radio Service (47 CFR 97.15), any private land use rules applicable to such structures shall be treated as a state or local regulation and shall be subject to the same requirements and limitations as a state or local regulation."
The measure would put private land-use regulations, such as homeowners' association rules, on the same legal plane as state or local zoning regulations under the FCC's PRB-1 limited federal preemption regarding antenna structures--§97.15 of the Amateur Service rules. PRB-1 now applies only to states and municipalities.
ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, is encouraging League
members to write their elected representative and ask that they cosponsor and
support the bill, especially given two hurricane emergencies in short order.
 ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP (right), during an earlier visit to Rep Israel's Washington office. |
"I think it's time now that we, as amateurs, really band together and see what we can do about writing our congressional representatives and explaining to them that Amateur Radio is certainly a part of this nation's communications infrastructure," Haynie said. "What we're asking for is just a fair shake so we can put up antennas and help our fellow citizens."
While the League has ramped up its efforts to educate members of Congress about Amateur Radio, Haynie said lawmakers respond best to individual members.
HR 3876 has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Information about the bill and a sample letter to use when contacting your representative are available on the ARRL Web site.
In his formal announcement this week, Israel said that "often unsung" Amateur Radio volunteers were instrumental in helping residents in the hardest hit areas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, including saving stranded flood victims in Louisiana and Mississippi.
"State and local governments, as well as disaster relief agencies, could not possibly afford to replace the services that radio amateurs dependably provide for free," said a statement from Israel's office. "However, the hundreds of thousands of Amateur Radio licensees face burdensome regulations that make it extremely difficult to provide their public services."
In past statements, Israel has said that the growth of
developed communities has put a growing number of hams under an "array of
inconsistent regulations" that make it harder and harder--or altogether
impossible--to erect the necessary antennas.
| Previous: IARU Eyes Global Coordination of Amateur Radio's BPL/EMC Response | Next: Interference Complaints Prompt FCC Queries to California Repeater Owners |
