[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Time to sound the alarm

[KA4GFY]

I have been watching the VA General Assembly website since before the legislators went to Richmond.  The original 4 bills aiming to outlaw use of handheld wireless devices ( HB 377, HB 387, SB 136 and SB 160) have been combined/revised with other bills.  

SB 160 still survives and allows for an exemption for amateur and citizens band radio operators.  However, up until today (4 Feb, 2020), HB 874 also exempted amateur and citizens band operators.  That exemption was struck out TODAY.

Its time to send your State Senators and Delegates email/letters and phone calls to tell them to put this back in or vote it down. 

We raised a ruckus two years ago about this and it died down, but remember, there is a whole new crew in there this year with some really way out ideas.  They can/will do some irreversible damage in the next two years.

Senator Soroviel and Delegate Sickles will be hearing from me tomorrow. 

Using a two way radio was NEVER a problem until the proliferation of cellphones.   

73, Rich, KA4GFY