[BCVHFA] Fwd: ARLB011 New "PRB-1" Law Now in Effect in Ohio

[Carl Morgan]

>ZCZC AG11
>QST de W1AW
>ARRL Bulletin 11  ARLB011
> From ARRL Headquarters
>Newington CT  May 17, 2012
>To all radio amateurs
>
>SB QST ARL ARLB011
>ARLB011 New "PRB-1" Law Now in Effect in Ohio
>
>On May 15, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a bill into law granting
>comprehensive rights to Amateur Radio operators in that state.
>Several key players in the successful effort to enact a "PRB-1" law
>in Ohio were present for the signing, including Section Manager
>Frank J. Piper, KI8GW; Rick Swain, KK8O; Bill Carpenter, AA8EY;
>Steve Katz, N8WL, and Constance Barsky, WD8ODC. ARRL Great Lakes
>Division Director James Weaver, K8JE, was also at the signing.
>
>Ohio SM Frank Piper provided some background:
>
>"In the past three years, we have had four versions of this bill in
>the Ohio Statehouse. In the last State Assembly, these bills died in
>Committee. In this current Assembly, everything lined up for us, and
>House Bill 158 made the entire journey from Introduction to the
>Governor Kasich's signature.
>
>"We had to make a few revisions to HB 158 during its travels through
>committee hearings, but in the end we finished with an Act that
>places the full language of CFR 47, Part 97.15 into the Ohio Revised
>Code. In addition, language at the end of the law states: 'Any
>legislative authority that denies an application for approval of an
>amateur station antenna structure shall state the reasons for the
>denial and shall, on appeal, bear the burden of proving that the
>authority's actions are consistent with this section.' This language
>removes the burden of proof from the Amateur Radio operator and
>places it on the legislative authority.
>
>"State Government Liaison Nick Pittner, K8NAP, did a tremendous job
>over the past several years, staying on top of the status of bills
>that were running their course on both sides of the Statehouse. Nick
>knew when to call in key people to testify to Committees, and was
>instrumental in the process of negotiating the required revisions
>when requested.
>
>"My thanks go out to all the Amateur Radio operators in the Ohio
>Section who called, wrote and e-mailed their State Representatives
>and Senators to support this legislation. Without their grass roots
>work, this victory would not have been possible."
>NNNN
>/EX