[BCVHFA] Fwd: ARLB007 Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 Introduced

[K8CM]

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>SB QST @ ARL $ARLB007
>ARLB007 Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 Introduced
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>ZCZC AG07
>QST de W1AW
>ARRL Bulletin 7  ARLB007
> From ARRL Headquarters
>Newington CT  March 1, 2005
>To all radio amateurs
>
>SB QST ARL ARLB007
>ARLB007 Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 Introduced
>
>At the urging of the ARRL, Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) has introduced The 
>Amateur Radio  Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 into the US House of 
>Representatives. The bill, designated HR 691, has been referred to the 
>House Energy and Commerce Committee where Bilirakis serves as 
>vice  chairman. Like previous versions of the proposal, the current 
>measure would require the FCC to provide ''equivalent replacement 
>spectrum'' to Amateur Radio if the FCC reallocates primary amateur 
>frequencies, reduces any secondary amateur allocations, or makes 
>additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce 
>their utility to amateurs.
>
>ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says the legislation ''is vital for 
>ensuring that the Amateur Radio Service, the only 100-percent fail safe 
>emergency communication capability, remains a viable public safety option.''
>
>HR 691 references Amateur Radio's role in providing ''voluntary, 
>noncommercial radio service, particularly emergency communications,'' and 
>it points out that hams have ''consistently and reliably'' provided 
>communication support in the event of emergencies and disasters including 
>tornadoes and hurricanes, chemical spills, forest fires and rail 
>accidents. As the measure notes, FCC actions already have led to the loss 
>of at least 107 MHz of spectrum to radio amateurs.
>
>Rep Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) has signed on as the bill's first co-sponsor.
>
>Efforts now will focus on attracting additional cosponsors for the 
>legislation. The League is encouraging members to urge their congressional 
>representatives to sign aboard HR 691. More than 100 lawmakers agreed to 
>cosponsor similar legislation in the 108th Congress, where it 
>was  designated HR 713. Work is proceeding to have identical legislation 
>introduced in the US Senate.
>
>The text of HR 691 is available on the Government Printing Office Web 
>site  http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills
>&docid=f:h691ih.txt.pdf.
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