[PPRAANet] PRB-1 is Senate Bill 15-041 in Colorado

[John Bloodgood]

Please disseminate with other Colorado groups.
 
As mentioned last night on the Pikes Peak ARES net.  
 
For those unfamiliar with PRB-1, it is a limited directive from the FCC to state & local governments to give extra consideration to amateur radio towers and antennas when it comes to zoning and code restrictions.  PRB-1 does not mean that a city has to allow a 50 ft mast, it just has to give it some extra consideration.  Many local governments just pay it passing attention -- the directive just says they should give extra consideration to ham radio antennas and masts, but that consideration is often no more than ceremonial:  "Yes, we considered it.  No you may not have it.  Next!"   Further, the rules vary greatly through-out the state.  The goal of the state bill is to make things more uniform throughout the state and to ensure local codes do take it seriously.  While PRB-1 is limited, getting it coded into state law would probably be a good thing if for no other reason than it would allow PRB-1 disputes to be settled in state courts instead of federal courts.  
 
For more about PRB-1, this site does a decent job it laying it out: https://telecomlawfirm.com/ham/ .  Here is a listing of states which currently have a PRB-1 like law:  http://www.arrl.org/state-statutes  .  
 
Currently PRB-1 has no affect on covenants or HOAs even at the federal level.  This is being addressed by the ARRL in a separate action in Congress.
 
Robert asked that you begin voicing your support for SB 15-041 with our local Colorado state legislators.  While emails and phone calls are effective, I have been told via PR channels that physical letters and, surprisingly, faxes are both more effective.  
 
 
 
v/r
 
John Bloodgood, KD0SFY
PIO -- Region 2 Distroct 2, Colorado ARES (Pikes Peak ARES)
www.facebook.com/PikesPeakARES
Twitter  @PikesPeakARES
 
From: Richard.Russel at ngc.com
To: n0vsapcrc at gmail.com; drj826 at acm.org; jcwillut at yahoo.com; johnbloodgood at hotmail.com
Subject: Region 2 ARES: FW: EXT :RE: PRB-1 is Senate Bill 15-041 in Colorado
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2015 14:27:45 +0000









FYI
 
Contact Robert direct if you want to assist.
 
Thanks!
 
Rich
AC0UB


From: Robert Wareham Colorado ARES SEC [mailto:SEC at ColoradoARES.org]


Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 7:55 PM

To: 'Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ'; 'Mileshosky, Brian, N5ZGT'; 'Ciaccia, Jack, WM0G'; 'Allen, Dwayne, WY7FD'; 'Henderson, Dan N1ND'; 'Imlay, Chris, W3KD'

Cc: 'Emit Hurdelbrink'; 'Perry Lundquist'; 'John Maxwell'; 'randy.w0rdr at gmail.com'; 'allenbishop at comcast.net';
k0mht at comcast.net; 
ec at arapahoeares.org; mfdavey at comcast.net; 'Rob Strieby'; 'Rich Russel';
jay.wilson at disasters.org; 
amanda.alden at live.com; 'jrsv92sc at outlook.com'; 'norman.brown21 at yahoo.com'; 'riley.frazee at state.co.us'; 'rooney-family at comcast.net'; 'whitmore.colin at yahoo.com'; 'barry at americamail.com'; 'grweber47 at gmail.com'; 'neal.a.tew at gmail.com'; 'danielnye at mho.com';
doug at dougsharp.com

Subject: RE: PRB-1 is Senate Bill 15-041 in Colorado

Importance: High


 
Good Day All:
 
The seventieth Colorado General Assembly convened today and codification of PRB-1 into Colorado state law was one step closer with the introduction of Senate
 Bill 15-041 (SB15-041), sponsored in the Senate by Senator Chris Holbert and in the House by Representatives by Representative Kevin Van Winkle. They introduced the bill early to give the legislators something upon which to work in the early days of the session
 and because they anticipated little opposition. The bill has been assigned to the Local Government committee.
 
>From ARRL HQ I would appreciate a written statement of testimony that I could present to the committee. Locally we will organize articulate hams to testify,
 as well as representatives of our ARES served agencies. I do not have a hearing date as yet, but it could be in the next week or two. Senator David Balmer is the Vice-Chair of the committee and a friend of mine from my days as a candidate for District Attorney
 three years ago. I will communicate directly with him as well as our sponsors. Both houses of our General Assembly are in Republican hands this session, so my connections are all the more valuable; however I am on cordial terms with committee member Senator
 Ulibarri (D) from my testimony before the judiciary committee on gun control two years ago.
 
As the bill was introduced only today, there is nothing more on the General Assembly website although you can track the progress there.

http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/cslFrontPages.nsf/HomeSplash?OpenForm
 
Jack and Colorado ARES folks: The committee meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Tuesday meeting is at 2:00 p.m. and the Thursday meeting in upon adjournment
 of the senate session, so that can vary. I am going to block those times on my calendar for the next couple of weeks. Jack, let’s have a phone conference on who else we would care to have testify.
 
It is not too early to mobilize Colorado hams in contacting their senators and representatives with phone calls, emails, and letters supporting Senate Bill
 15-041! Let’s get the word out as soon as possible.
 

Robert Wareham, NØESQ
Section Emergency Coordinator
Colorado ARES
 
State Government Liaison
Colorado Section, ARRL