[TWIAR] Congressman Israel Reintroduces Emergency Legislation

[Greg Williams]

Israel Reintroduces Emergency Legislation Alongside Broadband Wireless
Operators Who Have Served Huge Role in Rescue After Katrina
 
 9/21/05 - On Monday, Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington) announced the
reintroduction of the "Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency
Act" that will help to protect the vital function of amateur radio as an
emergency communications and public safety resource. 
Amateur radio operators have always filled in the gap when other
communications systems failed. Hurricane Katrina was no exception. In the
storm's aftermath, operators of amateur, or "ham," radios have been
instrumental in helping residents in the hardest hit areas, including saving
stranded flood victims in Louisiana and Mississippi. State and local
governments, as well as disaster relief agencies, could not possibly afford
to replace the services that radio amateurs dependably provide for free. 

However, the hundreds of thousands of amateur radio licensees face
burdensome regulations that make it extremely difficult to provide their
public services. 

"Amateur radio provides a vital public safety communications service to the
public at no cost to taxpayers," said Israel. "So-called 'hams' provide
emergency communications when regular channels are disrupted or disabled.
State and local governments, as well as disaster relief agencies, could not
possibly afford to replace the services that radio amateurs dependably
provide for free." 

"Amateur radio works in emergencies because we 'hams' are willing and know
how to set up emergency stations near the disaster," added Frank Fallon,
Hudson-Long Island Division Director of the American Radio Relay League.
"Unfortunately if all new housing developments contain deed restrictions
forbidding outside antennas there will probably come a time when there will
not be enough ham radio operators to help their neighbors and countrymen.
Congressman Israel's bill will make sure all American's will have emergency
communications should a disaster or a terror attack occur. The Congressman
is doing much to help others understand this problem. Ham radio operators
thank him for making sure we can continue to help our neighbors and the
country in time of need." 


Israel's legislation seeks to insure that amateur radio operators are
available for emergency communications in all sections of the country,
regardless of whether they live in a development, such as a retirement
community, or townhouse subdivision. Restrictions against antennas render
amateur radio operators unable to utilize their licenses, which in turn may
ultimately hinder their emergency communication role during times of
disaster or national crisis. 


Gregory S. Williams
k4hsm at lock-net.com