It’s time to do your part and rally Congress! And it’s real easy – just click the (red<\/span>) link below. But make sure you read the whole article so you understand how important<\/strong> your participation is. Thank you!!<\/strong><\/p>\n Courtesy of the American Radio Relay League:<\/p>\n 09\/14\/2016<\/p>\n \u201cThe bill is passed without objection.\u201d<\/i> With those words, Amateur Radio history was made on September 12, when the US House of Representatives approved<\/strong><\/a> the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301<\/strong><\/a> on a voice vote under a suspension of the rules. The focus of the campaign to enact the legislation into law now shifts to the US Senate. The House victory culminated many years of effort on ARRL\u2019s part to gain legislation that would enable radio amateurs living in deed-restricted communities to erect antennas that support Amateur Radio communication. The measure calls on the FCC to amend its Part 97 rules \u201cto prohibit the application to amateur stations of certain private land-use restrictions, and for other purposes.\u201d While similar bills in past years gained some traction on Capitol Hill, it was not until the overwhelming grassroots support from the Amateur Radio community for H.R. 1301 shepherded by ARRL that a bill made it this far. The legislation faces significant obstacles to passage in the US Senate, however.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is huge step in our effort to enact legislation that will allow radio amateurs who live in deed-restricted communities the ability to construct an effective outdoor antenna,\u201d ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said. \u201cThanks to everyone for their help in this effort thus far. Now we must turn our full attention to getting the bill passed in the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who chairs the ARRL Board\u2019s Legislative Advocacy Committee, has been heavily involved in efforts to move H.R. 1301 forward. \u201cThis has been a multiyear effort that is finally seeing some light,\u201d he said. \u201cThe passage of the bill in the House is a major accomplishment, due to the hard work of so many \u2014 from the rank-and-file member to the officers and directors.\u201d<\/p>\n Lisenco said it\u2019s not a time to rest on our laurels. \u201cWe are only halfway there. The focus now shifts to our effort in the Senate,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are beginning a massive e-mail campaign in which we need every member to write their two Senators using our simplified process. You will be hearing from President Roderick and from your Directors, asking you to go to our \u2018Rally Congress<\/strong><\/a><\/span>\u2019 page. Using your ZIP code, e-mails will be generated much like our recent letter campaign. You\u2019ll fill in your name and address and press Enter. The e-mails will be sent directly to your Senators without you having to search through their websites.\u201d<\/p>\n Lisenco said getting these e-mails to members\u2019 Senators is a critical part of the process. \u201cThose numbers matter! Please help us help you by participating in this effort,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n As the amended bill<\/strong><\/a> provides, \u201cCommunity associations should fairly administer private land-use regulations in the interest of their communities, while nevertheless permitting the installation and maintenance of effective outdoor Amateur Radio antennas. There exist antenna designs and installations that can be consistent with the aesthetics and physical characteristics of land and structures in community associations while accommodating communications in the Amateur Radio services.\u201d<\/p>\n During this week\u2019s limited debate, the House bill\u2019s sponsor, Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), thanked ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI) for reaching an agreement to move the bill forward \u201cin a bipartisan and very positive manner.\u201d He pointed out to his colleagues that Amateur Radio antennas are prohibited outright in some areas.<\/p>\n \u201cFor some this is merely a nuisance,\u201d Kinzinger said, \u201cbut for others \u2014 those that use their Amateur Radio license for life-saving emergency communications \u2014 a dangerous situation can be created by limiting their ability to establish effective communication for those in need.\u201d<\/p>\n Kinzinger said that in emergencies, hams can provide \u201ca vital and life-saving function\u201d when conventional communication systems are down. He also praised the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS), a US Department of Defense-sponsored program, comprised largely of Amateur Radio volunteers, that also supports communication during emergencies and disasters.<\/p>\n Cosponsor US Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT) also urged the bill\u2019s passage. \u201cThis is not just a feel-good bill,\u201d Courtney said, recounting how Hurricane Sandy brought down the power grid, and \u201cwe saw all the advanced communications we take for granted\u2026completely fall by the wayside.\u201d Ham radio volunteers provided real-time communication in the storm\u2019s wake, he said, saying the legislation was a way \u201cto rebalance things\u201d for radio amateurs who choose to live in deed-restricted neighborhoods by enabling them to install \u201cnon-intrusive antennas.\u201d<\/p>\n Courtney noted that he spoke recently with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, and said that Wheeler \u201cstrongly supports this legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n Leading up to the vote, Rep Paul Tonko (D-NY) also spoke in support of the legislation, calling it a commonsense approach that would build \u201cfairness into the equation for Amateur Radio operators\u201d in dealing with homeowners associations.<\/p>\n The earlier U.S. Senate version of the Amateur Radio Parity Act, S. 1685, no longer is in play, and the Senate is expected to vote by unanimous consent on the version of H.R. 1301 that was adopted by the House on September 12.<\/p>\n \u00a9 American Radio Relay League.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s time to do your part and rally Congress! And it’s real easy – just click the (red) link below. But make sure you read the whole article so you understand how important your participation is. Thank you!! Courtesy of … Continue reading