[HIham] Cell phone legislation, status update

[Ron Hashiro]

Fellow amateur radio operators in Hawaii.

Today, we have two news items regarding cell phone legislation and 
mobile amateur radio operations.

1)  KH6MEI, AH6RH and KH7U met with Council member Okino this afternoon 
to discuss
Bill 4, CD1 before the Council which affects mobile cellphone operations 
on Oahu.  We had a
positive understanding, and we look forward to an upcoming proposed 
draft Bill 4, CD2 in the
next few days.  This is a favorable development for hams on Oahu.

The next Transportation Committee meeting would be Thursday, April 9th, 
and we can use
testimony and public attendance by amateur radio operators for that 
meeting.  (More details as
it becomes available).

2)  We uncovered Senate Bill 1054, SD2 HD1, which is a more restrictive 
cell phone bill.
Because it is a Hawaii State Legislative bill, it would affect mobile 
amateur radio operations
in the entire state because it covers "other electronic devices".

This bill has already crossed over from the Senate, gone through the 
House Transportation
committee, and is now before the House Judiciary Committee.

Like the Council Bill 4, we need personal testimony submitted.  It's 
unclear at the moment
if we should submit it to the Chair of the Judiciary committee -- so 
prepare your testimony.

You can keep tabs of the latest status at:

http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/cellular-phone-ordinance.html

Ron Hashiro, AH6RH