[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] FW: FW: Commonwealth of Virginia Senate Bill SB74

[ka4gfy at cox.net]

Don't forget to contact your Delegate as well.

The VA General Assembly has a tool to find your legislators:

http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

73,
Rich, KA4GFY

-----Original Message-----
From: alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Lewis (KI4D)
Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2017 12:19 AM
To: alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] FW: FW: Commonwealth of Virginia Senate Bill SB74

For those who may be interested, enclosed for your use is a candidate letter that makes a case for amending SB74 to better support amateur radio as a public service.   Although it was designed as a constituent's letter, it can be modified in any way desired as an email or as a letter for postal service.  It would ideal if the author of the bill, Senator Scott Surovell office, could hear from amateur radio operators who live in District 36 by next week because SB74 is scheduled for hearings beginnings January 10th.  District 36 is shown in the attached map graphic annotated in orange.  Senator Surovell may be contacted as follows:

Off Session - Local District Office
Phone - 571.249.4484
ScottSurovell at gmail.com

Senator Scott A. Surovell
P.O. Box 289
Mt. Vernon, VA 22121

 It is important to note that letters and calls to any Virginia Senators or Delegates concerning this issue can be helpful if the bill comes up for votes.

Don, KI4D

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As a constituent and one of more than 19,000 FCC - licensed Amateur Radio Operators in the State of Virginia, I am writing to ask that you support amending the current SB74 to insert “The use of Amateur Radio” as an exception in paragraph 1.B, and strike the current paragraph 1.B.6., which limits amateur radio.

Amateur Radio was established in part by Congress particularly with respect to providing emergency communications, which is not the case with CB radio, noting that CB radio has a full exception in the current SB74.

While it is important that amateur radio operators be allow to participate in emergency communications or drills on behalf of federal, state, or local authorities, it is equally important that amateur radio operators be allowed to use their equipment routinely so that they will be trained and skilled operators ready for public emergencies, including support with mobile operations. 

Virginia has always relied on and benefited from Amateur Radio’s critical communications support in time of need. We have been prepared for, and involved in the response to virtually every disaster in Virginia volunteering to provide communications, at no cost to anyone.  The Amendments of SB74, as requested,  will allow Amateurs to continue to provide the same critical communications service to our communities as we have for over the past 100-plus years. 

As a constituent, I ask that you support these amendments to SB74 when it comes to the Senate floor for a vote. Thank you for your consideration.

-----Original Message-----
From: alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Lewis (KI4D)
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2017 10:59 PM
To: alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] FW: Commonwealth of Virginia Senate Bill SB74

This note follows up on tonight's weekly net discussions about Virginia Senate Bill SB74.  The note from ARRL Virginia Section Manager, Dr. Joseph G Palsa, below explains concerns about SB74.  A big concern is that CB operators have more privileges in the bill than FCC licensed amateur radio operators, who have a mandate for public service.  It is important to contact your Senator or Delegate about this bill before the legislature takes action on it beginning January 10th.  The bill is attached.

You can find out who represents you in the Senate and House or Congress at http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/.  If you provide your home address, the site will give you the email address and phone numbers of your state Senator and Delegate.

Don, KI4D 

-----Original Message-----
From: ARRL Members Only Web site [mailto:memberlist at www.arrl.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2017 3:43 PM
Subject: Commonwealth of Virginia Senate Bill SB74

All Virginia Hams:
Since this SB74 was brought to the attention of Virginia Hams, there has been many emails and calls to legislative offices concerning individual contacts are being made by Dr Joe Palsa, Section Manager K3WRY and State government Liaison and Mac McNeer K4YEF.

For Assembly contact and bill information:
http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/

The following is an explanation letter that explains what effects SB74 will have on the Amateur radio community.  Personal contacts and visits have been made to several elected offices to make sure they understand the damage that will done to the effectiveness of amateur radio on a normal daily basis as well as any emergency services performed by hams.

Virginia Senate bill will limit Amateur Radio in
vehicles--------------------------
Virginia state Senate bill SB74 would limit amateur radio use in vehicles while totally exempting CB radio from those rules. Designed to limit the use of mobile phones while driving, it seems to limit the use of “hand-held devices” used by hams to situations that have been approved by the state or a local government. “Hand-held devices” are not clearly defined; does a microphone with buttons on it count? As Allan Johnson, WA3J, put it, “You can’t expect the sheriff of a small rural community to know the exemptions in detail. He sees a device in the hands of a ham and he gives the ham a $150 to $250 ticket. Going to court to show an exemption is costly in time and dollars.” We are asking for an exemption equivalent to the CB exemption. When the sheriff sees a microphone in hand, she or he will know this is exempt.
Given the number of runs, walks, bicycle tours and other events supported by hams government-permission imposes quite a burden. The event organizers or supporting hams will have to go to their government representative and get approval by a process that does not exist in most localities. One result is that many hams will not bother to install transceivers in their vehicles. That means less experience in mobile communications, not a good thing for emergency response or the support of community events. 
With many state governments starting their legislative sessions this spring. Hams need to review the bills before they go to committee. As hams around Virginia learn of SB74, they are contacting their state legislators. Legislators listen to those who vote.

The bill can be found at
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=181&typ=bil&val=sb74
Bruce MacAlister, W4BRU

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ARRL Virginia Section
Section Manager: Dr Joseph G Palsa, K3WRY k3wry at arrl.org
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