[RVRC] FCC released the mandated 'report to Congress' on the Amateur Radio

[drew Moore]

2a 


Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:46 pm (PDT) . Posted by: 


 
<mailto:BillLokken at comcast.net?subject=Re%3A%20FCC%20released%20the%20mandat
ed%20%27report%20to%20Congress%27%20on%20the%20Amateur%20Ra> "Bill Lokken"
rockhound1942 


What I get from this is that Congress asked the FCC to do a study on,
generally, the value of amateur radio to emergency agencies and asked if
there were any unreasonable impediments to radio operations by hams.

The Report to Congress is the report that was asked for by the Congressional
statute 6 months ago. Through a Public Notice, the FCC solicited comments
and received many inputs from hams and interested organizations, including
the ARRL. 

The conclusions of the FCC study are:

1. Amateur radio IS valuable in disaster situations for many reasons and its
value has been proven in many recent situations.

2. Credentialing of hams from a national agency like the FCC or DHS to enter
disaster areas to provide communications was probably not warranted and
should be left to state and local agencies (as it is now). But the study
suggested that DHS could provide training to state and local emergency
organizations on how to better incorporate ham capabilities into their plans
and processes and to provide access credentials in a more organized way.

3. The FCC's past policy concerning preemption of state and local
regulations on amateur radio was not to do it. Their policy left it to state
and local authorities to regulate such things as antenna height, repeaters,
etc. The FCC wants these agencies to provide reasonable accommodation but
does not specify what reasonable is. The FCC's conclusion in the study is
that there would be no change to the past policy.

4. Restrictions on hams from CC&R's in living communities vary broadly but
in each case are private contracts. Hams voluntarily subjected themselves to
them. It recognized that stations could be operated remotely. The FCC's
policy in the past was not to preempt CC&R's. The conclusion in the study
was to continue that policy without change.

The bottom line is that the FCC recommended to Congress that no further
Congressional action be taken regarding amateur radio. Personally I think
the study has raised awareness of the ham's plight in trying to get better
antennas, repeater networks and integration with local emergency agencies.
It has also provided general recognition of the dedication hams have to
helping with everything from disasters to bicycle races. I don't think we
are going to see relief from CC&R's in terms of allowing outside antennas. I
was hoping that maybe a national standard could be developed that would
allow at least HF verticals in stealth locations.

I hope I interpreted all this right!

Bill
K1WRL