[TNham] I am voicing my support for HB-2973 (PRB-1)

[Greg Williams]

As you may or may not know, the Tennessee Legislature is working on
attempting to pass bill HB 2973 thru the House.  This bill is based on
lifting antenna restrictions to accomodate Amateur Radio usage.

It states in the document, in part:

(a) A municipality that regulates the placement, screening, or height of
radio antennas must reasonably accommodate amateur radio antennas.  A
municipality may impose only the minimum requirements relating to amateur
radio antennas that are necessary to accomplish the legitimate purposes
intended to be served by the requirements.

Being an amateur radio operator, it is important that the Amateur Community
be allowed to use whatever means necessary to facilitate their emergency
communications.  I am active in SKYWARN communications, and I must pass
traffic to the National Weather Service Office in Morristown, TN.  In order
to do this, we must have whatever reasonable means are at our disposal in
order to reach their offices.  This includes antennas and towers that are
capable of accomplishing this important task.

We as a community support emergency communications in almost any situation.
Whether it be attacks upon our country, as in the September 11 situation, or
during severe weather, or even in the case of the 125-car pileup that
occurred this morning in Ringgold, GA, without amateur radio being able to
pass important information to and from the scene, the emergency agencies are
at a severe disadvantage without the volunteer efforts of these dedicated
Radio Amateurs including myself.

I encourage you to support PRB-1 (HB-2973) and support amateur radio in
Tennessee.  More information on this bill is available at the following URL:

http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB2973.pdf

Thank you for your support of amateur radio.

Greg Williams, K4HSM
Emergency Coordinator
Knox County

6200 Robin Heights Drive
Knoxville, TN 37921-5039
865-368-3154