[InHam] Senate Introduces Companion Bill to HR 2160

[Paul Webster]

Hello to all, Finaly some good news. I hope that this bill passes. This is something to keep an eye on. 
73/75 de ka9jwx, Paul Lewis Webster

SKCC #5322

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SB QST @ ARL $ARLB031
ARLB031 Senate Introduces Companion Bill to HR 
2160

ZCZC AG31
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 31  
ARLB031
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  October 7, 
2009
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB031
ARLB031 Senate 
Introduces Companion Bill to HR 2160
 
October 6, Senator Joe 
Lieberman (D-CT), along with Senator Susan
Collins (R-ME), introduced Senate 
Bill 1755, The Amateur Radio
Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 
2009. Similar to HR 2160
-- also called The Amateur Radio Emergency 
Communications
Enhancement Act of 2009 -- that was introduced this past April 
by
Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18), the bill, if passed,
would 
direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to undertake
a study on 
emergency communications. S 1755 points out that "There
is a strong Federal 
interest in the effective performance of Amateur
Radio Service stations, and 
that performance must be given -- (A)
support at all levels of government; 
and (B) protection against
unreasonable regulation and impediments to the 
provision of the
valuable communications provided by such 
stations."

"We are delighted to have the sponsorship of both the Chairman 
and
the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs
Committee, and especially to have the support of Senator 
Lieberman
from the ARRL's home state," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer 
David
Sumner, K1ZZ. "The bill could not have a better pedigree." 
Lieberman
is the Chairman of the committee, while Collins is the 
Ranking
Member.

Like HR 2160, S 1755 calls on DHS to undertake a study 
on the uses
and capabilities of Amateur Radio Service communications 
in
emergencies and disaster relief and then to submit a report to
Congress 
no more than 180 days after the bill becomes law. The 
study
shall:

Include a review of the importance of Amateur Radio 
emergency
communications in furtherance of homeland security missions 
relating
to disasters, severe weather and other threats to lives and 
property
in the United States, as well as recommendations for enhancements 
in
the voluntary deployment of Amateur Radio licensees in disaster 
and
emergency communications and disaster relief efforts and 
improved
integration of Amateur Radio operators in planning and 
furtherance
of the Department of Homeland Security initiatives.  
Identify
impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio Service communications, 
such
as the effects of unreasonable or unnecessary private land 
use
regulations on residential antenna installations; and 
make
recommendations regarding such impediments for consideration by
other 
federal departments, agencies and Congress.

In conducting the study, S 
1755 directs the Secretary of Homeland
Security to "utilize the expertise of 
stakeholder entities and
organizations, including the Amateur Radio, 
emergency response and
disaster communications communities."

S 1755 
makes note of the fact that Section 1 of the Joint Resolution
entitled Joint 
Resolution to Recognize the Achievements of Radio
Amateurs, and To Establish 
Support for Such Amateurs as National
Policy -- approved October 22, 1994 
(Public Law 103-408) -- included
a finding that stated: "Reasonable 
accommodation should be made for
the effective operation of Amateur Radio 
from residences, private
vehicles and public areas, and the regulation at all 
levels of
government should facilitate and encourage amateur radio 
operations
as a public benefit." The bill also pointed out that Section 
1805(c)
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 757(c)) directs 
the
Regional Emergency Communications Coordinating Working Group of 
the
Department of Homeland Security to coordinate their activities 
with
ham and Amateur Radio operators among the 11 other 
emergency
organizations, such as ambulance services, law enforcement 
and
others.

ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI said 
that
Amateur Radio operators in the State of Maine have "an 
outstanding
relationship" with their Congressional representatives -- 
plus
Governor John Baldacci is KB1NXP!" Both Connecticut and Maine 
are
part of the League's New England Division

Frenaye said that Maine 
Section Manager Bill Woodhead, N1KAT,
dropped off a letter at Senator 
Collins' office in Lewiston two
weeks ago, asking for her support. "After 
that, we had amateurs in
Maine write the Senator," he said; more than 40 
Maine hams wrote
Senator Collins.

The Senate bill points out many 
positive things that Amateur Radio
operators do, including "provid[ing] on a 
volunteer basis, a
valuable public sector service to their communities, their 
States,
and to the Nation, especially in the area of national 
and
international disaster communications."

It mentions that amateurs 
provided emergency and disaster relief
communications services during both 
natural and manmade disasters.
"The Amateur Radio Service has formal 
agreements for the provision
of volunteer emergency communications activities 
with the Department
of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, the
National Weather Service, the National Communications System, 
and
the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, as well
as 
with disaster relief agencies, including the American National
Red Cross and 
the Salvation Army," the bill reads.

Right now, S 1755 has been read 
twice in the Senate chamber and
referred to that body's Committee on Homeland 
Security and
Governmental Affairs. HR 2160 -- now with 27 sponsors -- is in 
the
House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
NNNN
/EX


 
 








    
    






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