[PPRAANet] Joel Hefley Strikes Again!

[Wes Wilson]

All --

Craig Turner, KA�CT, VP of the Mountain Amateur Radio Club, sent a letter
urging Representative Joel Hefley (Colorado Fifth District) to support H.R.
4720, the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2002.
This bill would apply the current PRB-1 ruling (which currently applies to
states, counties and municipalities) to CC&Rs (Codes, Covenants &
Restrictions) imposed by Homeowner Associations, etc.

The text of the letter, which is on official "Congress of the United States,
House of Representatives" stationary and dated July 31, 2002 is duplicated
below.  The original is a .pdf file, but I cannot send attachments via the
various reflectors.

73  Wes K�HBZ


Dear Mr. Turner:

I have received your recent comments pertaining to H.R. 4720, Mr. Israel's
bill, the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2002.

I am fully aware of and have the highest respect for the efforts of ham
radio operators in times of war and of peace.  But I also have the highest
respect for keeping land-use decisions at the state and local levels, which
is what is at issue here.

Supporters of this legislation liken H.R. 4720 to the exemption the 1996
Telecommunications Act gave to satellite dishes.  That pre-emption of
homeowners' association covenants with respect to television satellite
dishes under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 resulted from a combination
of the promise of satellite television and the exasperation of many members
and staff members with such covenants.  Nevertheless, I opposed that
pre-emption.  Homeowners' association can be intrusive and obnoxious.  But
their members made a choice to live in those communities and abide by those
rules.  I do not believe it is the federal government's job to overrule
those decisions.

Your comments have been noted and I will keep them in mind.

Sincerely,

[Signed] Joel
Joel Hefley
Member of Congress

=====================

Contact information listed on the letterhead:

Washington Office:
2230 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515
(202) 225-4422

Colorado Springs Office:
104 South Cascade, Suite 106
Colorado Springs, CO  80903
(719) 520-0056

Englewood Office:
8058 South Quebec, Suite 103
Englewood, CO  80111
(303) 843-0401