[PPRAANet] Amateur Radio Bill Passes Senate, Moves to the House

[Wes Wilson KØHBZ]

All -- My apologies for list duplications--

For those of you who don't receive ARRL bulletins, this (below) is a
significant start!  Bill passed the Senate, now going to the House of Reps
for their consideration.  Recommend we all "urge" our Representatives in the
House to support the bill.  

73 Wes KØHBZ 

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB037
ARLB037 Amateur Radio Bill Passes Senate, Moves to the House

ZCZC AG37
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 37  ARLB037
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  December 16, 2009
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB037
ARLB037 Amateur Radio Bill Passes Senate, Moves to the House

On Monday, December 14, S 1755 -- The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Enhancement Act of 2009 -- passed the Senate by unanimous consent; the bill
now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Sponsored by
Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), S 1755, 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."

Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
considered S 1755 on December 10. After it passed through Committee, it was
placed on the Senate's calendar to be voted on.
"We are grateful to Committee Chairman Lieberman and Ranking Member Collins
for sponsoring the bill and arranging for its swift consideration and
passage by the Senate," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner,
K1ZZ.

Similar in language 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]), 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.
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/EX