HR.4969 ARRL files again...

In a video, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, has issued an urgent call to action to all radio amateurs to get behind a grassroots campaign to promote co-sponsorship of HR.4969, "The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014." HR.4969 would require the FCC to extend PRB-1 coverage to restrictive covenants. It was introduced in the US House with bipartisan support on June 25 at the request of the ARRL, which worked with House staffers to draft the legislation. The measure would require the FCC to apply the "reasonable accommodation" three-part test of the PRB-1 federal pre-emption policy to private land-use restrictions regarding antennas. The bill's primary sponsor is Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). It had initial co-sponsorship from Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT).
President Craigie also exhorted all radio amateurs regarding support for HR.4969 in remarks appearing in the The ARRL Legislative Update Newsletter. Craigie stressed in the Newsletter that the legislation stands to benefit not just today's radio amateurs but those in the future.
"Chances are, those Americans of the future will grow up in communities having private land use restrictions," she said "That is the way the country is going, and it is very bad for Amateur Radio. How can Amateur Radio thrive, if more and more Americans cannot have reasonable antennas at home? You and I have to stand for the Amateurs of the second century."
If the measure passes the 113th Congress, it would require the FCC to amend the Part 97 Amateur Service rules to apply PRB-1 coverage to include homeowners' association regulations and deed restrictions, often referred to as "covenants, conditions, and restrictions" (CC&Rs). At present, PRB-1 only applies to state and local zoning laws and ordinances.
An HR.4969 page now is open on the ARRL website. It contains information and resources for clubs and individuals wishing to support efforts to gain co-sponsors for the measure by contacting their members of Congress. FYI Tom K8WDX

 

Yes....but the House is only step one. Any idea if the Senate will take it up at all? If not we are wasting our time.

 

It's all part of the legislative process. If you get enough legislators interested, the bill can be re-filed if it isn't wrapped up by the end of this Congress.

 

No, not at all.

Yes, exactly. This is admittedly a hard sell, but possible over time. It will be important to connect it with other public concerns about HOAs and CCRs, and to pair the legislation with other bills. All this happens by developing a long-term relationship around this issue with legislators and - most important - their staffs. So we need to keep plugging away.

The people at ARRL leading this, especially Dan Henderson and Chris Imlay, are VERY knowledgeable, and are using other Washington professionals in counsel. IMHO, it's very much worth the effort.

 

They had a really slick system at Hartford. Hams that walked by the booth were asked to sign a form letter to their congressman. I signed a letter to Susan Davis, don't know if she will read it, but she will get a whole wheelbarrow full of letters now! Maybe that will catch her attention.

 

Such letters have little influence, some perhaps but not much. The same with e-mails, generally. If you write a letter out on paper, spend 50 cents and an envelope to get it there, it has a bit more weight.

I sent letters to my Congressman and both Senators. I've already gotten a reply from the Congressman. He says he appreciates my letter and "will take my views into consideration when the measure comes up for a vote." I wrote back and said I will take his views into consideration when his new term comes up for a vote in November.

No point in beating around the bush.

BTW, Pat, Davis is a Pelosi clone who doesn't need to know your views. She already knows what's best for you. Another reason to be glad to be out of that socialist hellhole.

 

All these HR4969 pro and con arguments are moot. HOAs in the US are represented to government by the Community Associations Institute (CAI). They have LOTS of resources (money) with which to fight HR4969. The ARRL doesn't. The CAI has millions of HOAs and even more millions of residents who like things the way they are. If you count all the hams in the US, the ARRL has less than 750K backers.

Then, there's Congress. If I was in Congress, I'd be more concerned about many millions of voters than no more than 750K of hams. And then, there's Congress' current track record of doing nothing more than in-fighting. I'm not betting the farm on HR4969 going anywhere.

 

The definitive answer to solving this "problem" is to
simply Just Say NO to signing your property rights away in the first place.

Houses and properties are a dime a dozen.
There's no shortage.
Vote with your feet.
Buy elsewhere.