[nrv-hams] H.R. 1301 is in the House!

[Kay Craigie]

Yesterday the bill which was H.R. 4969 in the 113th Congress was
re-introduced in the 114th Congress as H.R. 1301, the Amateur Radio Parity
Act. The bill's purpose is to achieve a regulatory level playing field for
amateur radio antennas, whether hams live in communities where land use is
regulated by municipal zoning or in communities having private land use
regulations (homeowner associations, deed restrictions, covenants, etc.). 

Announcement about this will appear shortly in the ARRL's media. The bill
was introduced by Rep. Kinzinger of Illinois, as it was last time. This
time, however, instead of one original co-sponsor we have 12. One of them is
Morgan Griffith, who serves the Virginia 9th District in which most NRVARC
members live. I wrote to Mr. Griffith's office last month asking for
original co-sponsorship, and it happened. I know that other hams in the
district contacted the Congressman last year, so the credit belongs to a lot
of people, not just me.

It is important to thank Mr. Griffith for his support of this bill. It's
good manners, and it helps ensure that he will continue to listen to us
about issues affecting amateur radio.

The easiest way to do this is to go to his Congressional web site at
http://morgangriffith.house.gov/

Click on "Contact me." This will offer the option of e-mailing or getting
the phone numbers of local offices.

Whether you phone or e-mail, please be sure to refer to H.R. 1301. The bill
number from last year means nothing now and should not be used.

I have already written my thank-you note. I hope you will do the same. If
you belong to another ham club with members in the Virginia 9th District,
please feel free to relay this message. 

73 - Kay N3KN