[South Florida DX Association] ARRL Members Respond to HR 607

[Kai Siwiak]

Today I mentioned that our 420-440 MHz privileges were at risk. This is 
the full story. Bottom line, write to your Congressman!!  Details and 
sample letters are linked from the ARRL site: 
Find your rep:   
http://www.arrl.org/contacting-your-congressional-representatives
Sample Letters and details: 
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-asks-members-to-write-in-opposition-to-hr-607

73,
Kai, KE4PT

-ARRL Members Respond to HR 607

03/02/2011

Last month, a bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives 
that addresses certain spectrum management issues, including the 
creation and maintenance of a nationwide Public Safety broadband 
network. This bill -- HR 607, known as The Broadband for First 
Responders Act of 2011 -- if passed, also calls to auction off parts of 
the 70 cm band, namely 420-440 and 450-470 MHz. As such, the ARRL asked 
its members to write their Representative, asking them to not support HR 
607 in its current form.

According to ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, 
Chwat & Co -- the ARRL’s legislative relations firm in Washington, DC -- 
received almost 1000 letters in just the first week from League members 
in opposition to HR 607. “This is a great start and many thanks to the 
diligent members who have risen to the challenge; however, it cannot 
stop there. As long as HR 607 is in its current form, we must continue 
this campaign.” He clarified that the ARRL opposes HR 607 in its present 
form: “We do not oppose the concept of dedicated spectrum for the 
development of a Public Safety infrastructure and wireless network. We 
object to the bill because of the inclusion of 420-440 MHz as part of 
the spectrum to be swapped and auctioned to commercial users.”

Henderson shared a few pointers for writing letters in opposition to HR 
607. He said that two of the most frequently asked questions that he 
receives are Why does the ARRL ask us to funnel our letters to Congress 
through Chwat & Co? Why can’t I send my letter directly to my 
Representative?

“Trust me when I say I understand your concern and I firmly believe that 
the more input members of Congress receive -- either for or against an 
issue -- from their constituents, the better the public interest is 
served,” Henderson said. “But using the services of Chwat & Co has many 
advantages that help the ARRL further its legislative agenda. The most 
important part of our system is that hand-delivery of constituent 
letters to a Congressional office provides the opportunity for a 
face-to-face meeting with key staff or your Member of Congress -- an 
opportunity to make our point directly.”

Unfortunately, several dozen letters sent to Chwat & Co. are not usable 
for a variety of reasons, Henderson explained. Some letters are in 
support of bills that the ARRL supported in previous sessions, but have 
no bearing on HR 607. Henderson cautioned that bill numbers change in 
subsequent Congresses, as do the issues being addressed: “Please make 
sure your letter is addressing the correct issue. Don’t ‘dust off’ that 
letter you sent previously -- it will not help with the current problem.”

While we all look for “easy” ways to express ourselves to our 
Representatives, a letter sent without a signature carries little weight 
when Congressional staffs begin assessing support or opposition to a 
bill. Though many members of Congress have websites where constituents 
can simply fill out a web page form to share their thoughts with their 
Representative, such web forms have only limited usefulness in lobbying 
on a specific issue. “The fact that a constituent makes the effort to 
sign a letter personally -- then sends it in via fax, regular US Mail or 
by scanning the signed letter into a PDF then e-mailing it -- has a far 
greater impact than an unsigned e-mail or web-based form,” Henderson 
said. “Please make sure your letter carries your signature. It does make 
a difference!”

Henderson said that several letters received at Chwat & Co were 
addressed to the wrong person. For example, there were several letters 
addressed to Senator Boxer, but began with “Dear Representative Boxer” 
-- an incorrect title. “We are not asking letters be sent to members of 
the Senate -- only to your Representative in the US House. If you are 
unsure of who your Representative is, you can find out here.”

Sometimes, in our eagerness to help, we can overlook some of the basics, 
like grammar, spelling and the proper form of address. “Please proofread 
your letter several times to ensure it is accurate,” Henderson advised. 
“This should include all names, addresses and salutations, as well as 
any comments or edits you may add to our form letter.” He said that by 
reading the final letter out loud to yourself several times before 
sending to Chwat & Co, you can find most, if not all, mistakes.

“Defeating HR 607 in its present form is a fight Amateur Radio can win 
-- but only with thoughtful participation by us all,” Henderson 
explained. “Thanks to all of you for your efforts and let’s keep this 
moving forward. Protecting our spectrum is important to all of us!