Helping Hassled Hoosier Hams

[WB9OMC]

Indiana is on the brink of passing legislation that will
codify PRB-1 into law. #Indiana Senate Bill SB109 has
passed the State Senate and has now moved on to
the State House of Representatives. #If you are a
Hoosier Ham who is interested in the Antenna Issue,
drop by http://www.antennasup.org to learn more about
this legislation and how you can help!

Duane
WB9OMC
Antennas UP!

How about giving us at least a summary of what this bill is about. Not everyone is familiar with the Indiana legislature's docket.

[W7WIK]

This is for "anonymousham". #Did you even read the post above? #In the last sentence there is a link for more information on the subject. #You are too fast to criticize OM... whoever you are. #Why are you afraid to identify yourself?

Marco, W7WIK

[WB9OMC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (anonymousham @ Mar. 07 2003,19:24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">How about giving us at least a summary of what this bill is about. #Not everyone is familiar with the Indiana legislature's docket.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I guess you can come to QRZ!'s website and know
enough to get into the forums but not enough to
go my website (which was listed in my post) and
find the link (which I have made pretty easy to do),
right? # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Once again, and with gusto, Antennas UP! (http://www.antennasup.org)

....go and check it out. #You don't need to be familiar
with Indiana's legislative docket, just manuever around
the website and the information will be handed to you
on a silver platter. # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wb9omc @ Mar. 08 2003,18:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (anonymousham @ Mar. 07 2003,19:24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">How about giving us at least a summary of what this bill is about. Not everyone is familiar with the Indiana legislature's docket.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I guess you can come to QRZ!'s website and know
enough to get into the forums but not enough to
go my website (which was listed in my post) and
find the link (which I have made pretty easy to do),
right? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Once again, and with gusto, Antennas UP! (http://www.antennasup.org)

....go and check it out. You don't need to be familiar
with Indiana's legislative docket, just manuever around
the website and the information will be handed to you
on a silver platter. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Sir, I apologize for the contention I have created. Let me assure you it was unintentional. My post was intended only as constructive criticism aimed at making the posts on this site more concise and descriptive.

There are a few major components that should go into any news story: who, what, when, where and why. We know this legislation has something to do with antennas and people who live in Indiana, but that's about all we know from reading it.

Does it deal with antenna height, municipal restrictions, HOA/POA restrictions, antenna placement? If I knew more about which aspect of antennas the legislation covered, I would be more likely to know if I wanted to read it and possibly get involved.

As it is written now, I skipped visiting the link. I have a slow computer and and I can't afford to visit every link unless I know it's something I'm interested in.

I am certainly glad there are individuals like you who are willing to take the time to post articles about important issues to our forum. I guess my belief is that the way a message is presented can be as important as the content.

All I was trying to do was offer advice on making the message a little bit clearer. Again, my apologies if I offended.

[N9XK]

As for the who, what , where, when, and why question. Let's see, if I had to take a wild stab at it..... It would be "PRB-1" being codified into Indiana's laws via SB109.

I'm going to go out on a limb here but, if you have a callsign you probably already know what PRB-1 is. I don't think I've EVER talked to a ham that didn't know what PRB-1 is about.

I found the original post to be succinct, informing everyone (specifically hams in Indiana) to this long awaited legislation. Additional information can be obtained at the weblink provided for those interested in finding out more.

There's no sense re-inventing the wheel when there's a website that already outlines the legislation for those who are truly interested in finding out more. Saying a web connection is too slow to warrant going there seems a weak excuse used to criticize an article, sorry, just my observation. If you really had any interest in SB109, PRB-1 or antenna restrictions in general you'd go there anyway regardless of web connection speed.

Personally, it doesn't directly impact me because my state (Florida) already has passed PRB-1 into law. But it gives me a good feeling to see our fellow hams in Indiana finally getting their day in court so to speak. I'm genuinely glad for them.

73,
Mark
N9XK

[WB9OMC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (anonymousham @ Mar. 09 2003,19:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wb9omc @ Mar. 08 2003,18:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (anonymousham @ Mar. 07 2003,19:24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">How about giving us at least a summary of what this bill is about. #Not everyone is familiar with the Indiana legislature's docket.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I guess you can come to QRZ!'s website and know
enough to get into the forums but not enough to
go my website (which was listed in my post) and
find the link (which I have made pretty easy to do),
right? # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Once again, and with gusto, Antennas UP! (http://www.antennasup.org)

....go and check it out. #You don't need to be familiar
with Indiana's legislative docket, just manuever around
the website and the information will be handed to you
on a silver platter. # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Sir, I apologize for the contention I have created. #Let me assure you it was unintentional. #My post was intended only as constructive criticism aimed at making the posts on this site more concise and descriptive.

There are a few major components that should go into any news story: #who, what, when, where and why. #We know this legislation has something to do with antennas and people who live in Indiana, but that's about all we know from reading it.

Does it deal with antenna height, municipal restrictions, HOA/POA restrictions, antenna placement? #If I knew more about which aspect of antennas the legislation covered, I would be more likely to know if I wanted to read it and possibly get involved.

As it is written now, I skipped visiting the link. #I have a slow computer and and I can't afford to visit every link unless I know it's something I'm interested in.

I am certainly glad there are individuals like you who are willing to take the time to post articles about important issues to our forum. #I guess my belief is that the way a message is presented can be as important as the content.

All I was trying to do was offer advice on making the message a little bit clearer. #Again, my apologies if I offended.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
How about I make it nice and easy. Here is the
DIRECT URL for Indiana Senate Bill 109:

http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2003/IN/IN0109.1.html

That should take you directly to it, and cause you no difficulties
with being clear enough or concise enough. I apologize that the
quality of my website is not up to standards sufficient for some
people - with the link above you shouldn't even have to SEE my
atrocious attempt at doing something decent.

No good deed ever goes unpunished.

[N9XK]

I can't even begin to reason why someone would say "I'd do everything possible to prevent that piece of legislation from passing". The proposed bill will protect hams from municipalities that want to regulate antenna height or placement! So, because you can't have antennas nobody else can? I don't get it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

Since it appears that some folks either can't or won't read the bill here is a copy of it.


Synopsis: Regulation of amateur radio antennas. Requires a municipality or county to comply with an FCC ruling (PRB-1) concerning amateur radio preemption or a regulation related to amateur radio service. Prohibits a municipality or county from restricting the height of amateur radio antennas to less than 75 feet above ground level.

The actual text of the proposed chapter:

SECTION 1. IC 36-7-5.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003]:
# # Chapter 5.2. Regulation of Amateur Radio Antennas
# #Sec. 1. A municipality or county may not enact or enforce an ordinance, a resolution, or an order that does not comply with the ruling of the Federal Communications Commission in "Amateur Radio Preemption, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985)" or a regulation related to the amateur radio service adopted under 47 CFR Part 97.
# #Sec. 2. If a municipality or county adopts an ordinance, a resolution, or an order involving the placement, screening, or height of an amateur radio antenna based on health, safety, or aesthetic conditions, the ordinance, resolution, or order must:
# # # #(1) reasonably accommodate amateur radio communications; and
# # # #(2) represent the minimal regulation practicable to accomplish the municipality's or county's legitimate purpose.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# #Sec. 3. A local ordinance, resolution, or order may not restrict the height of an amateur radio antenna to less than seventy-five (75) feet above ground level.
# #Sec. 4. This chapter does not prohibit a municipality or county from taking action to protect or preserve a historic, a historical, or an architectural district that is established by the municipality or county or under state or federal law.

73,
Mark
N9XK

[WB9OMC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (k3who @ Mar. 13 2003,19:45)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'd do everything possible to prevent that piece of legislation from passing. I live in a housing development and we aren't allowed to have any visable antenna's on our property. It is a very frustrating thing. I'd give my right arm to be able to put a couple of beams and a vertical or two on my roof. Instead I'm stuck to hiding them in my attic.

In this case we moved here before I got into the hobby and now I'm stuck with it.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Your post doesn't make any sense - you'd give an arm
to have beams but you don't want the legislation that
would help make it possible (if you lived in Indiana,
that is)?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

I am guessing that what YOU are up against is not
local zoning issues but CC&R issues. Take note that
apparently US House Bill HR4720 is still alive but just
not moving very fast (write your rep!!!!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif. HR4720 would
force Homeowner's associations, etc., rules to be
treated as local zoning rules. If then, each state
legally codifies PRB-1 as Indiana (and I note Washington
State, too) is trying to do, then in effect the HOA's
will have much less to say about ham antennas. As the
information I have suggests, other states already have
these laws in place, and the hams in those states who
suffer from CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions and
Restrictions) will only need to help get the US to pass
HR4720, then they should be free of meddlesome
HOA's....as long as there aren't any "retroactive" kind
of legal issues, that is.

This may sound like a piecemeal approach, but the FCC's
constant refusal to step in (even though they have the
power to do so) has resulted in concerned members of
the Amateur Community to take this course and in
effect, sidestep the FCC.

IMHO, this shouldn't have had to happen but such is
life. It is also a sign that Amateur Radio is not as
dead as some people think it is - with proactive hams
working together on these laws, it shows that there
*IS* cohesiveness in the ranks and that we can work
together to achieve a goal for the common good of
Amateur Radio.....and in this case, for the benefit of
the communities and neighborhoods, too. The petty
restrictions that have been put in place "bite the hand
that feeds them" in the sense that by overly restricting
our antennas, two things happen: a) lower antennas
put the transmission closer to consumer electronics that
are not well protected from TVI/RFI, resulting in more
complaints; and b) lower antennas can result in less
effective communications capability for emergency
communications.

Neither of these two situations should be acceptable
to either hams OR our neighbors, once they understand
that we can be a tremendous asset and not just a
"visual liability".

OM - you're NOT stuck with it !!!! Fight with us and help
us take BACK what we used to be able to do - to put
up an effective antenna without undue local restriction.
I'll bet you have hams in your state you feel this way,
and if you guys get together and work on it, you too can
make progress in the right direction. Check out my
website at:

http://www.antennasup.org

and let your fellow 3-landers (whichever state you are
in if you still live in 3-land) about it too. Don't just
roll over and give up - fight for it!!!!

BTW, my site has links to both the Indiana bill and
HR4720, amongst other related places. I hope to get
the Washington State material added soon.

[kd7fqd]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
This is kd7fqd from Utah and we just passed a PRB-1 for Utah which I authored and was signed on Mar 15th we will have a signing ceremony on April 4 at 10:30a and will send pictures for posting Good luck to Indiana
BTW I used to live in Elkhart still have family there!

[WB9OMC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kd7fqd @ April 02 2003,18:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
This is kd7fqd from Utah and we just passed a PRB-1 for Utah which I authored and was signed on Mar 15th we will have a signing ceremony on April 4 at 10:30a and will send pictures for posting Good luck to Indiana
BTW I used to live in Elkhart still have family there![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Congratulations to all you folks in Utah for a job
well done! I see that there is also legislation
introduced in California. Someone attempted to
send me an email telling me that the Indiana Bill
got stomped, but his attachment was empty and
I can't find any reference to this at any source.
Washington State is up against the "Association
of Washington Cities" or some such group who is
opposed to their Bill. I requested information from
the AWC but they have thus far refused to comment.
I wanted to give them equal time on my website,
believing that to be fair....if they don't take
advantage of it that's their problem. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I have thus far held up the Washington material
to give the AWC time to reply; I think they've had MORE
than enough time.

FYI to all, the US Bill HR4720 has been reborn as
HR1478 (I think I got that right, working from
memory here).

Congrats again to the hams in Utah, and to all -
ANTENNAS UP!

Duane
WB9OMC