ARRLWeb: Tennessee Amateur Finds Innovative Way to Promote Amateur Radio

Cliff Segar, KD4GT, had an unused billboard on his property that bordered Interstate 40 in Tennessee. Now the billboard is put to good use promoting Amateur Radio. [Photo courtesy Cliff Segar, KD4GT]

Segar (right) with ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, at the 2007 ARRL National Convention in Huntsville, Alabama earlier this month. [Jon Bloom, KE3Z, Photo]

About three years ago, Cliff Segar, KD4GT, and his wife Kati were looking for another place to live. They were then living in the Atlanta, Georgia area, and Segar's job territory reached from Bristol, Tennessee to the Atlanta area. Since Kati had a home-based business, they were looking to move anywhere in between the end points of Segar's territory. After months of looking, they found their dream house in Rockwood, Tennessee. There was just one problem -- it was right on Interstate 40. The Tennessee Department of Transportation owned the fence on the south side of the property, which meant traffic noise.

"We returned one more time just to see how much this was going to bother us," Segar said. "After five minutes outside talking about the many beauties surrounding us, it dawned on us -- we had forgotten to listen for the traffic, and decided that it was not the issue we thought it might be. The swath of trees along the fence made a rather good attenuator, and mostly it's just the tire noise. We signed papers and went into debt."

Two billboards were located within the Segar's new property. "They don't provide much in the way of income; basically just paying the annual property taxes in 'rural' Tennessee. We are so rural, neither DSL nor cable comes close to the property, and the dial-up connection to the Internet averages 14.4 kb. Taxes are much lower this far out, and so is the price of land." Of the two billboards, Segar said the one "up front (from our house perspective)" is the prime space. It is larger and lighted and in use. The other billboard was not rented, and it was getting run down, with brush and trees overtaking its view from the Interstate.

The couple chose this location not only for Segar's work, but for its potential as future retirement property, its rural setting and maybe even having a horse or two. "It also had enough land for lots of wire above ground, unrestricted vertical storage of galvanized steel structures and few restrictions for line of sight propagation of electromagnetic fields," Segar said, proving that Amateur Radio is always forefront in his thoughts. "Since I also enjoy paying the local electrical power distribution facility to provide me with electrons just so I may radiate them into thin air and beyond, I also like to promote the Amateur Radio Service and support the ARRL that continues to fight for my privilege to distribute those magnetic fields to the moon and beyond," he said.

This year, the ground lease for the two billboards came up for renewal. Segar said that this was his opportunity to do something useful. "Basically, the new lease for the previously unused billboard stipulated that the billboard company had the obligation to keep the brush and vegetation clear and, 'when the sign is not sold, lessee will agree to provide and install a vinyl face advertising Amateur Radio activities.'" Segar said that the only way the billboard company would agree to this stipulation was if they provided the vinyl facing at their expense. "This was even better than I thought it would be. Since the sign had not been sold at any time in the prior 3 years, I expect to see the sign for quite a long time," Segar said.

With the new lease signed, Segar sent an e-mail to ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, to let him know of this exciting development. "In case anyone is wondering if anyone in Newington reads e-mail, they do -- and frequently. In about an hour, Allen called me to work out the details," Segar said. Within two days, the ARRL graphics department had created the design for the vinyl facing.

"The only thing I requested," Segar said, "was to have a couple of 2 meter repeater frequencies listed for use by those of you driving past. The one repeater was basically a must since the Roane County Amateur Radio Club, in a moment of collective weakness, elected me president for the year. The only problem is that KE4RX/r is behind anyone who sees the sign. We needed a repeater that would continue to work with them for the next 30-plus miles." After a few discussions with Paul Drothler, WO4U, in Crossville, Tennessee, W4NSA/r was deemed the flagship repeater for use westbound. According to Segar, it is the primary repeater used by ARES during severe weather or other emergency situations. "If you are ever on I-40 between Cookville and Knoxville, dial in 146.895, pl 118.8 or 147.015+ and give a call. We will try to be listening, but please don't report that you caused an emergency slowing down to look at the sign!"

Segar says this billboard is not about him -- it is about Amateur Radio and the ways hams can promote it: "With the constant pressure from commercial interests on the spectrum allocated to the Amateur Radio Service, we all need to do something to promote the public benefit of the Amateur Radio Service. We are to be more than a hobby. It is part of our licensing agreement. It is even part of our name. We are to be a Service. I strongly urge everyone to think seriously about how they can be a service to their community through Amateur Radio. ARES is a good primary start and one that is most visible to the leaders of your community. Providing communication at public service events is another. But there are many more. To use an overworked cliché, think outside the box. Become involved. Getting a DXCC or WAS award is great. A 5BDXCC shows even more dedication but it really doesn't help 'pay' for the spectrum we enjoy. Your city mayor or county supervisors really don't care that you managed to work Peter I Island on all five bands at the bottom of the sunspot cycle -- there's nothing in it for them. Each of us needs to show our elected and appointed officials that Amateur Radio really is a high quality and vital Service to them. The sooner that happens, the easier it will be to put up that new antenna you've been wanting."

He continued: "Be innovative. The great folks in Newington are ready, willing and able to help you. Join the ARRL and get involved. Join a local club. Get active in ARES, RACES or a local CERT group. Spend a Saturday with a handheld radio at a parade. You and the thousands of other licensed operators in the Amateur Radio Service worldwide will continue to enjoy the challenges, joys and magic of Amateur Radio. This billboard is only part of my contribution. What's yours?"