View Full Version : Amateur Radio Protection Act
KB9BVN
06-11-2003, 10:01 PM
June 11, 2003 - Today in Washington DC, ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, testifed on behalf of House Resolution 713 "Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act".
If approved, the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act would amend the Communications Act to require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio if the FCC reallocates primary amateur allocations, reduces any secondary amateur allocations, or makes additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs.
There are 675,000 Radio Amateurs in the USA, we all need to get three QSL cards and do the following:
On the back write: "PLEASE SUPPORT HR 713 AND S 537 NOW".
Send one to each of your Senators, and one to your Congressman in the House of Representatives.
Make sure your return address is on the card, cards and letters with no return address are often discarded and have less than no impact.
73 de KB9BVN
Brian Murrey
W1RFI
06-13-2003, 08:20 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KB9BVN @ June 10 2003,16:01)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The story about this on the ARRL web site is at:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/06/11/101/?nc=1
Here is a quote from the article:
"We are indeed a first responder," Haynie said on behalf of the nation's some 680,000 Amateur Radio operators. Ham radio is more than "just having fun playing on the radio," he told the panel, a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee chaired by Rep Billy Tauzin (R-LA). "It also produces capable, trained volunteer communicators in systems of emergency telecommunications that are impervious to disasters of all sorts," Haynie said. "These volunteers are ready to respond--and do respond immediately--when all other systems of communications fail, including public safety communications whey they're overloaded, destroyed or lack interoperability."
I gotta' say that the fact that the ARRL President managed to get himself into a position to be able to say that to the appropriate Congressional committee justified my dues dollars for this year!
The article also talks about the need to ask your Congress folks to support and co-sponsor this legislation. I agree with Brian, but also suggest that hams add a personal touch, outlining the importance of ham radio locally and explaining why all of what amateur radio does depends on our use of spectrum.
I would imagine that the typical ham may have as much as $5000.00 invested in his or her amateur activities, by the time you count what it cost to buy the study materials, pay for exams, buy rigs, antennas, towers, coax, publications, components and the host of things that are found in a typical ham shack.
If there are only 200,000 active hams, that adds up to an investment of $1 billion dollars -- a significant and important voluntary contribution of amateurs to the welfare of this nation! Add to that the out of pocket costs that hams incur driving to and from public-service events, and I am sure there are other things that can be put on the list.
This says nothing of the non-financial value of the time donated by amateur radio for public service. Hams give dozens to hundreds of hours of their time at public service events all across the country, from helping with the town parade to helping support fund raising efforts of major not-for-profit groups to the real, and sometimes dangerous, work of helping in a real disaster. How do you even put a value on that?
This has all happened at no cost to the government, but great value to our nation. We don't want to be paid, or reimbursed for our stations. All we ask in return for what we do is a continued fair access to spectrum. This bill would help accomplish exactly that. It has been on the plate before, and its visibility is rising, but this needs you and me and every one else behind it. Don't let "George" do it, because George is not enough. Jim Haynie is not enough, and ARRL is not enough. It may take all of us to make this happen, but all of us CAN do something about this.
Our Congressfolks are influenced by national events like Jim's testimony, but they are influenced more locally. Use this testimony as an opportunity to tell your representation why this is important and why your community and this nation will benefit. How much time do you think you will devote to ham radio this year? How much time will you spend on the QRZ.com boards today? Spend that amount of time to compose a brief letter to your Senators and Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor this bill.
The ARRL web page outlines the proposed legislation at:
http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html
This site also tells you how to easily contact your Congressfolks. All good things in amateur radio do not happen in Newington, CT. The HQ staff and League do good things, but 680,000 of all of us can accomplish far more than any organization could! This can be an opportunity for all of us to face in the same direction and take a collective step forward. Let's do this, take a few minutes and help ensure our future.
73,
Ed Hare, W1RFI
I have seen Alaska Dog Sled Teams accomplish more in a very short amount of time then the FCC and our elite Government.
The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act, is no doubt a great thing for us, as amateurs.
With the enforcement by the FCC at the bottom and below the Ocean floor, what good is this ACT going to do for 10 meters? Nothing in my opinion, nothing.
We are on a crash course with 10 meters, the "ILLEGALS".
Dollars and time spend by amateurs to provide services, when needed is true and we don't make a buck for our efforts.
How about the time spent, effort put forth by just afew amateurs in monitoring 10 meters for this blatant intrusion by illeagls?
In 3 years of monitoring, ONE, "ONE" individual was sentenced to Federal Prison-FLIPPO-.
We need two-fold here; the Protection Act "AND" Enforcement of 10 meters.
Yep, an Alaskan sled dog team can run faster and inflict serious injury to illegals if the command is given, more so then the Government.
10 meters is still active, sporadic but, open.
This amateur station spends more time listening to 10 meters to inflict my wonderful AM RTTY on those illegal bastards and I shall continue this operation until something is done, namely FCC Enforcement.
Protection Act + 10 Meter Enforcement = ZERO.
Apples vs. Oranges = ZERO.
Protection Act + 10 Meter Enforcement = 1.
Ya see, I'm in the minority, I know this from statements posted on qrz.com.
It will go away, I can't waste my time, screw 10 meters and more of the excuses of the this and the that. 10 meters has more illegals then any other amateur radio band.
Someone show me, direct me to a: LEGAL CB RADIO with more than 40-channels, there are none, only the illegal types.
Answer this question for me;
Why has the FCC asked the ARRL OO's to monitor 10 meters and just a plain-o group of amateurs have been submitting 10 meter logs on illegals for 3 to 5 years ?
I guess maybe it's status: I'm an OO and your not ?
Take some, give some. The illegal range 24Mcs to above 30Mcs, guess the FCC will "GIVE 24-30+Mcs to all illegals" and we licensed types get another 5-channels, LSB somewhere?
Remember this: The US Government created this, not amateurs.
"Setting a goal is good. Achieving it is awesome."
Maybe I should spend my time in more bowling tournaments.
W1RFI
06-13-2003, 12:38 PM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (k7pig @ June 12 2003,06:01)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Answer this question for me;
Why has the FCC asked the ARRL OO's to monitor 10 meters and just a plain-o group of amateurs have been submitting 10 meter logs on illegals for 3 to 5 years ?
I guess maybe it's status: I'm an OO and your not ?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
This is a positive step by the FCC; it does not help your cause by trying to turn it into a negative. The FCC could not see being an OO as a status thing, because none of the FCC staff are OOs. Turning it into a "status thing" directs this away from getting anything done. There is no good reason to do that.
The FCC has, over years, developed a good working relationship with the OOs, who generally develop evidence in violations cases that is presented in a format that the FCC needs. Any action it may take is strengthened by any good additional evidence, and this is generally a good way to get it.
Contact Chuck Skolaut at ARRL HQ to ask how you can best help ARRL with this FCC "assignment" and to tell him how ARRL can best help you with the work you have been doing. This one can use all the help it can get. Let's stop imagining motivations like "status" and get on to doing the job.
Let me know if I can help.
73,
Ed Hare, W1RFI