Antenna Group Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting

[KI4PMG]

As many of you know, I am the current President of HAMS FOR ACTION (HFA). We are a small but nationwide group, formed in July of 2006, which favors more intensive action for partial overrides of total bans on outdoor ham antennas by Homeowners' Associations (HOAs). We maintain a Web Site at www.hamsforaction.net

Recently, HFA responded to an announcement, by ARRL's Executive Committee, that the Winter Board Meeting in January will feature "a review of ARRL's overall legislative objectives". Our Members voted to urge the following action by ARRL's Board in January:


"Elevate HOA antenna reform to a top public policy
priority of ARRL, comparable in importance to
restraint of BPL -- and more important than
enactment of the Spectrum Protection Act."


** HFA Members also voted to urge every ARRL Member who agrees with us to contact the ARRL Director and Vice-Director for his or her Region. If YOU are such a pro-reform ARRL Member, HFA urges you to make your voice heard now. **


Following input from, and authorization by, HFA's Members as a whole, HFA itself sent a letter to 3 ARRL leaders: Executive Director Dave Sumner K1ZZ of Connecticut ... President Joel Harrison W5ZN of Arkansas ... and Board Member Jim Weaver K8JE of Ohio (who chairs the Committee that is establishing ARRL's new Legislative Action Program). Copies of this letter were sent to every Director and Vice-Director of ARRL.

HFA's letter conveys our request for Board action in January to make action on HOA antenna reform a top priority.

HFA's letter also commends ARRL for certain actions it has taken during and after the Summer Board Meeting in July. These actions were:


-- Initiating a new Legislative Action Program, to recruit and oversee volunteers for grassroots lobbying

-- Releasing $5,000 in new funding for grassroots lobbying

And

-- Tightening conflict-of-interest regulations for the awarding of ARRL contracts


Further, HFA's letter commends Dave Sumner for proposing the Board's review of "overall legislative objectives" in January.


********


The following documents have now been posted, under the category of "News Items", on HFA's Web Site at www.hamsforaction.net:


1. 6th document to the right of "News Items":

The text of HFA's LETTER TO ARRL


2. 4th document to the right of "News Items":

A SAMPLE LETTER TO ARRL BOARD MEMBERS, which you can use, if you choose, as a starting point for writing letters and/or E-Mails to your ARRL Director and Vice-Director ... Also included: Contact information for every Director and Vice-Director of ARRL


And


3. 5th document to the right of "News Items":

A SAMPLE LETTER TO U.S. SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, which you can use, if you choose, to urge your Congressional legislators to urge the FCC to act on HFA's July 2006 Petition For Rulemaking on HOA antenna reform


********


HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!


73,





Don Schellhardt KI4PMG
pioneerpath@hotmail.com
HFA's URL: www.hamsforaction.net

[W6YDK]

I'm making it a point to contact all of my representatives to let them know that most people, and many hams, like me, oppose any attempts at government interference in contractual matters between homeowners. #We bought in neighborhoods where antennas are prohibited because that's where we wanted to live.

In addition, desecration of our neighborhoods by towers and beams will lower our property values and the courts have held that similar acts are a 'taking' and require compensation. #I would assume that any organization, including the ARRL, will be ready to compensate homeowners for such a loss.

And if anyone were to attempt to construct any such thing in my neighborhood, I will be the first one to sue them until their feet swell and bleed them to death at $200 an hour.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (W6YDK @ Dec. 18 2006,14:52)]In addition, desecration of our neighborhoods by towers and beams will lower our property values and the courts have held that similar acts are a 'taking' and require compensation. I would assume that any organization, including the ARRL, will be ready to compensate homeowners for such a loss.

Are you kidding me?

So are you saying that even without a HOA, people are suing hams and winning because they claim an antenna reduces their property value?

[KR4EY]

Quote[/b] (W6YDK @ Dec. 18 2006,12:52)]I'm making it a point to contact all of my representatives to let them know that most people, and many hams, like me, oppose any attempts at government interference in contractual matters between homeowners. #We bought in neighborhoods where antennas are prohibited because that's where we wanted to live.

In addition, desecration of our neighborhoods by towers and beams will lower our property values and the courts have held that similar acts are a 'taking' and require compensation. #I would assume that any organization, including the ARRL, will be ready to compensate homeowners for such a loss.

And if anyone were to attempt to construct any such thing in my neighborhood, I will be the first one to sue them until their feet swell and bleed them to death at $200 an hour.

I live in a condo and i'm all for it.
In the mean time my solution is a portable antenna that works very good for me. My CC&R or HOA or whatever they call it says I can't even have a Ham Radio in my house let alone an antenna.
You know what I say to that.......

The ARRL or anybody else will never pay a penny out to you. They will laugh in your face.

Towers...That is like saying, you will sue someone you don't want or like in your neighborhood.

[K5THC]

Wow!! Which "Courts" are we talking about - County, State or Federal. I think the rulings I have read greatly from State-to-State. I wouldn't be too sure everyone's feet will swell up and bleed at $200 per hour.

[W2TO]

This would be fine, except for the fact in some areas of the country, it is impossible to find a house less than 30 years old that is not covered by a CC&R. I moved recently from an area of the country where HOA's were a totally foreign concept. They allow satellite dishes here of course, as they are required by PRB-1, because Hughes and Dish have oodles of cash they could throw at the FCC and Congress.

I think the whole concept of someone being able to tell you what to do on your own private property is preposterous......

Makes me think I am now living in the old USSR......

[KL7FZ]

Quote[/b] (W6YDK @ Dec. 18 2006,12:52)]I'm making it a point to contact all of my representatives to let them know that most people, and many hams, like me, oppose any attempts at government interference in contractual matters between homeowners. #We bought in neighborhoods where antennas are prohibited because that's where we wanted to live.

In addition, desecration of our neighborhoods by towers and beams will lower our property values and the courts have held that similar acts are a 'taking' and require compensation. #I would assume that any organization, including the ARRL, will be ready to compensate homeowners for such a loss.

And if anyone were to attempt to construct any such thing in my neighborhood, I will be the first one to sue them until their feet swell and bleed them to death at $200 an hour.

HOLY SMOKES!!! PLEASE STAY THERE!!! PLEASE!!! If you try to come around here we'll chase you right back to your snooty little enclave! Typical CA lawyer mentality. Probably one of the worst statements I have heard from a licensed ham! Including the whiney no-code ones! (thought I wasn't gonna get that one in here did ya?) Spend so much time worrying about your appearance. How can you spend any time enjoying yourself. Bet you go around the neighborhood at night checking for garbage cans! Maybe even looking in them to see the neighbors are eating what you want them to eat and reading what is only allowed them to read. Probably check to make sure they are only using an authorized brand of toilet paper!
#What is the uniform of the day? Is everybody in lock step going down the walk?
Now I know how the other half lives...if you can call it that!

# Please stay in California. Please, please, oh PLEASE!!!!

# KL7FZ #Alaska
# Where the air is sweet and free and so are we!

I hope I don't have nightmares about this guy now!

[NN3W]

Quote[/b] (W6YDK @ Dec. 18 2006,12:52)]

Quote[/b] ]I'm making it a point to contact all of my representatives to let them know that most people, and many hams, like me, oppose any attempts at government interference in contractual matters between homeowners. We bought in neighborhoods where antennas are prohibited because that's where we wanted to live.

Except for those already ordered by the FCC to be permissible notwithstanding any CC&R language to the contrary.

Quote[/b] ]In addition, desecration of our neighborhoods by towers and beams will lower our property values

Provide proof for this.

[K8MHZ]

Quote[/b] ]And if anyone were to attempt to construct any such thing in my neighborhood, I will be the first one to sue them until their feet swell and bleed them to death at $200 an hour.

You are a disgrace to the hobby.

Go polish your Rolex.

[KT0DD]

Quote[/b] (W6YDK @ Dec. 18 2006,12:52)]I'm making it a point to contact all of my representatives to let them know that most people, and many hams, like me, oppose any attempts at government interference in contractual matters between homeowners. #We bought in neighborhoods where antennas are prohibited because that's where we wanted to live.

In addition, desecration of our neighborhoods by towers and beams will lower our property values and the courts have held that similar acts are a 'taking' and require compensation. #I would assume that any organization, including the ARRL, will be ready to compensate homeowners for such a loss.

And if anyone were to attempt to construct any such thing in my neighborhood, I will be the first one to sue them until their feet swell and bleed them to death at $200 an hour.

First of all, Why are you even retaining a license? If you have any knowledge at all about the hobby, then you should know how important a good antenna system is, and it's certainly NOT a piece of wire in the attic! If your unwilling to support the hobby then please GET OUT! Either your for us or against us, and with your remarks, I see your against us and I question wether or not you are of stable charachter to even hold an Amateur license. I think the FCC should do a background check on you and hold a renewal hearing before allowing you to re-new your license should you choose to do so. (Let's hope not!)