[KL7AA] FW: Senate Bill for accommodation of amateur radio antennas

[David Heimke]

Many of you probably have already gotten this email, but the last time I hit
the reflector with the House version, it wasn’t long after that Rep Don
Young signed on as a co-sponsor of this legislation that may directly affect
you (here or if you relocate Outside).  Coincidence?  Maybe.  But I hope you
see the value in writing letters and in this bill that directly affects
amateurs throughout the USA.

 

I just finished writing my two letters to Senators Murkowski and Sullivan
since currently there is only one co-sponsor of this Senate version and
neither of them were our Alaskan senators.

 

I hope you will too.

 

Dave AL7LO

 

 

The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 Introduced into the US Senate 

 

On Thursday June 25, Senator Roger Wicker (MS), with Senator Richard
Blumenthal (CT) as initial co-sponsor, introduced the Amateur Radio Parity
Act of 2015, into the United States Senate.  The bill has been designated as
S 1685, and is the companion bill to HR 1301, which was introduced into the
US House of Representatives in March by Representatives Adam Kinzinger (IL)
and Joe Courtney (CT) as the sponsor and initial co-sponsor. S 1685 is
identical to HR 1301 and directs the Federal Communications Commission to
extend to private land use restrictions its rule relating to reasonable
accommodation of amateur service communications. It has been referred to the
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's subcommittee on
Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet, which is chaired by
the bill's sponsor, Senator Wicker.

 

“Introduction of the Senate bill is a huge step toward achieving fairness
for amateurs affected by private land-use regulation,” said ARRL President
Kay Craigie, N3KN. “For them and for the future of Amateur Radio, I thank
everyone who contributed to making this progress. Now let's finish the job!”

 

To help ARRL members’ efforts to support the two companion bills, all
information on HR 1301 and S 1685 has been consolidated in a single website
at www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act  on that page you will find:

 

Ø  Text of the legislation

Ø  A summary of what the bill would do

Ø  Talking points to help explain the background and need for the bill

Ø  How to contact your US Senators and US Congressperson

Ø  A sample letter soliciting co-sponsorship of the bill to send to your
elected representatives

Ø  Where to send your signed letter for delivery

Ø  A listing of current co-sponsors (which as of the date of this newsletter
numbers 84 in the House)

            

All ARRL members are encouraged to contact both of their members of the US
Senate as well as their member of the US House and ask for their support of
this legislation.  Ask them to become a co-sponsor by contacting either Mr.
Kinzinger’s office (HR 1301) or Mr. Wicker’s office (S 1685).  Feel free to
edit the sample letter, personalizing it to fit your specific story.  Once
printed and signed, you may scan your letter and send as a PDF or attachment
to an email to: reginfo at arrl.org  If emailing your letter, please include
the phrase “Grassroots Support letter” in the SUBJECT field to help in
processing at ARRL.  You may also send your letter via the US mail to: ARRL,
Grassroots Letter Campaign, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.

 

Please help get the word out to other ARRL members in your area as well as
to ARRL affiliated clubs. Don’t under estimate the importance or value of
every letter sent to your elected officials.  When ARRL officials walk into
an office on Capitol Hill and hand over a stack of letters from the “folks
back home”, it helps get the story across.  YOU make the difference.  Get
involved and active in supporting The Amateur Radio Parity Act!