[SFDXA] ARLB006 Amateur Radio Parity Act Speeds to U.S. House Passage, Heads to U.S. Senate

[Bill]

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB006
ARLB006 Amateur Radio Parity Act Speeds to U.S. House Passage, Heads to 
U.S. Senate

ZCZC AG06
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 6  ARLB006
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT January 26, 2017
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB006
ARLB006 Amateur Radio Parity Act Speeds to U.S. House Passage, Heads to 
U.S. Senate

Just 10 days after being introduced, the 2017 Amateur Radio Parity Act 
legislation, H.R. 555, passed the U.S. House of Representatives this 
week on unanimous consent under a suspension of House rules. The bill's 
language is identical to that of the 2015 measure, H.R. 1301, which won 
House approval late last summer after attracting 126 co-sponsors, but 
failed to clear the U.S. Senate last fall as the 114th Congress wound 
down. The new bill, again sponsored by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), was 
introduced on January 13 with initial co-sponsorship by Rep. Joe 
Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), who chairs the 
influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 555 can be found on the web at, 
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/555?r=27 
<https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/555?r=27> .

"The grassroots effort of Amateur Radio operators across this nation in 
support of the Amateur Radio Parity Act has been remarkable, nothing 
like we have ever seen before," ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, 
said. "To all hams, keep going! Now is the time to charge forward with 
that same momentum to the Senate. We can do it!" The bill arrives in the 
U.S. Senate with ample time in which to garner its approval through an 
education campaign.

"We're very encouraged by the speed with which this bill made it through 
the House. It's amazing that this happened," said ARRL Hudson Division 
Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who has been at the forefront of the 
legislative initiative. "With the help of ARRL members, we believe we 
can get this done," Lisenco continued. "We came within a hair's breadth 
last time, with 110,000 e-mails to members of both houses of Congress, 
as well as letters and telephone calls. Member participation in this 
final push is critical."

H.R. 555 calls on the FCC to establish rules prohibiting the application 
of deed restrictions that preclude Amateur Radio communications on their 
face or as applied. Deed restrictions would have to impose the minimum 
practicable restriction on Amateur Radio communications to accomplish 
the lawful purposes of homeowners association seeking to enforce the 
restriction.
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