The response to ARRL’s call to action urging the support of US Senators for the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301, has been gratifying — although the campaign continues. More than 50,000 e-mails have been sent to Capitol Hill viaRally Congress, and all 100 US Senate members have been contacted. The League continues to encourage members of the Amateur Radio community who have not yet done so to reach out to their two US Senators seeking their support. Just where things stand with respect to the bill’s future in the US Senate is not yet entirely clear.
“As of this moment, we have no date set for action by the Senate,” said ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who has been deeply involved in promoting passage of the legislation. “The Senate will adjourn the September work period soon and members will return home to campaign. If we do not achieve consideration before they go into hiatus, we will have to wait until they return after Election Day.”
On September 12, the US House of Representatives approved H.R. 1301 on a voice vote under a suspension of the rules, culminating many years of effort on ARRL’s part to gain legislation that would enable radio amateurs living in deed-restricted communities to erect antennas that support Amateur Radio communication. The bill calls on the FCC to amend its Part 97 rules “to prohibit the application to amateur stations of certain private land-use restrictions, and for other purposes.”
Shepherded by ARRL, the overwhelming grassroots support for H.R. 1301 from the Amateur Radio community was credited for getting the bill through the US House, but it faces significant obstacles to passage in the US Senate. The earlier U.S. Senate version of the bill, S. 1685, no longer is in play, and the Senate is expected to vote on the version of H.R. 1301 that the House adopted this month. The vote came after ARRL worked with the Community Association Institute — which represents homeowners associations — to develop language that both organizations could support.
Rally Congress makes it easy to generate letters to Senators in support of The Amateur Radio Parity Act. The entire process takes just a couple of minutes.
“So it is critical that ARRL members continue to write their Senators,” Lisenco urged. “To those who have already written, thank you! If you haven’t done so already, please do so today. We can only do so much. After that, it becomes the responsibility of the membership to participate.”
According to the amended bill provides, “Community 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.”
More information on The Amateur Radio Parity Act is on the ARRL website.
Antenna
Cushcraft R9 covers 6,10,12,15,17,20,30,40,80 Meters
This multiband vertical designs provide 9 band coverage encompassing the 6, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40 and 80 meter bands. Cushcraft achieved a majo... Read more
How High Should a Dipole Be? A Look at Antenna Modeling
“How high should a dipole be? What happens if it’s too low or too high? We turn to EZNEC antenna modeling software to see that the old rul... Read more
The New Carolina Windom By Len Carlson, K4IWL
“ As with all ham stations QRO or QRP, ten percent ofa station?s success in quality QSOs is the equipment and the operator. Ninety percent is th... Read more
Equipment
openSPOT3 introduction [ VIDEO ]
Home » openSPOT3 ••••••••• The openSPOT3 is a battery powered, portable, standalone digital radio internet gateway (hotspot) designed mainly for amate... Read more
RS-918SSB HF SDR Transceiver
Spectrum Dynamic Waterfall Display Multiple Working Modes: Receive Mode, Transmit Mode, TUNE Mode, VFO Mode, SPLIT Mode DSP Digital Signal Processing... Read more
]
News
Ham Gifts for under $50 | Xmas Gift Guide – K6UDA Radio Episode 36
Its the Ham Shopping Channel. Danielle is back and we’ve assembled a bunch of gift ideas to make the Ham Radio community holiday happy. Grab you... Read more
Q5 QRM – Ham Radio Song
Ham Radio Song A good ham radio friend refers to his wife as Q5 QRM, I thought it would make a funny song so here it is... Read more
World’s Oldest Ham Recognized
Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) For Immediate Release: August 31, 2015 For more information contact: Charles Tropp N2SO charlestropp@y... Read more