[OFARC] update on Amateur Radio Parity Act

[Ralph (home)]

I cut this item from the ARRL newsletter today.
please note ... I added BOLD to some of the text.

KE5HDF
Ralph
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--H.R. 1301 and S. 1685 Advance in Congress

The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 — H.R. 1301 and S. 1685 — now
has the support of over 116 members of the US House of Representatives.
One of the newcomers agreeing to cosponsor H.R. 1301 was Rep John
Larson (D-CT) who represents the Connecticut House district that
includes ARRL Headquarters.  The other new cosponsor was Rep Kristi L.
Noem (R-SD).

The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 would direct the FCC to extend its
rules relating to reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service
communications to private land use restrictions. Kinzinger introduced
H.R. 1301 in March with 12 original cosponsors from both sides of the
aisle. Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced S. 1685 in June with Sen
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) as the original cosponsor.

Recently the League took steps to address objections and concerns
raised by representatives of community associations about the
legislation. The ARRL produced the YouTube video ,“Clarity on Amateur
Radio Parity,” which makes it clear that the bill will not create new
federal policy with respect to outdoor amateur antennas. As it points
out, the FCC already recognizes a strong federal interest in effective

Amateur Radio communication from residences and has adopted a limited
preemption of state and local regulation of Amateur Radio antennas. The
Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 would extend the limited preemption to
private land-use restrictions.

H.R. 1301 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), chairs that panel’s Communications and
Technology Subcommittee, which will consider the measure.  S. 1685 was
referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee’s subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation,
and the Internet, chaired by Sen Wicker, the bill’s sponsor.         
S. 1685 was passed out of committee with only two negative votes.  The
bill now awaits action on the floor of the Senate.  

The ARRL continues to encourage members to write their US House and
Senate members urging their cosponsorship of the legislation. Visit the
Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 page for information on how you can get
involved.  Also, go to the following YouTube address to view “Clarity
on Amateur Radio Parity”.  

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMY-5U1cJ6E








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