Amateur Radio Parity Act

Reference:  ARRL has a webpage for this topic at Amateur Radio Parity Act.


Fight To Overcome Antenna Restrictions

Many amateur radio operators live in restricted communities that have deed covenants, conditions and restrictions, CC&Rs, that will not permit radio antennas to be installed outside.   Just think about how you would get on the air without an outside antenna!  What would you do if they came to your house today and told you to take down all your antennas?

Fortunately, there is a bill in Congress right now that will require “reasonable accommodation” to land use restrictions for amateur radio operators.  The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 HR555 was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives on January 13, 2017 to provide amateurs living in restricted communities the same protection for antennas as everyone now has living without CC&Rs.

On January 23, 2017 HR555 passed the U.S. House of Representatives by unanimous consent on a voice vote and is now headed to the U.S. Senate for passage.  The ARRL will follow the progress of the bill and will keep the amateur community informed of the progress.

Visit the ARRL page about the Amateur Radio Parity Act for more information.  Amateur radio is more than just a hobby.  In times of an emergency, that outside antenna can make all the difference in getting the message through.

Bert Garcia N8NN


UPDATE January 24, 2019

ARRL Board of Directors Issues Statement on Amateur Radio Parity Act
The ARRL Letter for January 24, 2019

At its annual meeting January 18 – 19, the ARRL Board of Directors decided that the organization needs to “review, re-examine, and reappraise ARRL’s regulatory and legislative policy with regard to private land use restrictions.”

In order to effectively undertake such a review, the Board adopted a resolution to withdraw its December 18 Petition for Rule Making to the FCC, which sought to amend the Part 97 Amateur Service rules to incorporate the provisions of the Amateur Radio Parity Act (ARPA), without prejudice to refiling. The resolution also is asking members of Congress who had refiled legislation to enact the Amateur Radio Parity Act (ARPA) to refrain from seeking to advance that legislation pending further input from ARRL.

Board members noted that ARRL has been pursuing adoption of the ARPA for the past several years, and that objective has not yet been achieved. While everyone understands that getting Congressional approval on any matter can be a lengthy process, the difficulties getting the ARPA approved has been a source of frustration to the organization and its members. A majority of the Board now believes that there is a need to reassess the organization’s approach to this issue.

The Board wants to make clear to its members, and to those whose policies and conduct prevent or impair the right of US Amateur Radio operators to operate from their homes, that this pause is not, and should not be interpreted as an abandonment of its efforts to obtain relief from private land-use restrictions. The Board noted that its intent is “to renew, continue and strengthen the ARRL’s effort to achieve relief from such restrictions.” This action represents a chance to get the best product possible for all US Amateur Radio operators.

The Board expressed its sincere appreciation to the thousands of ARRL members who took the time to contact their representatives in Congress to urge them to support the Amateur Radio Parity Act. The Board also offered its thanks to those members of Congress who have consistently and continuously supported the rights of US Amateur Radio operators.


UPDATE December 20, 2018

ARRL Petitions FCC to Incorporate Parity Act Provisions into its Amateur Radio Rules

The ARRL Letter for December 20, 2018

The ARRL has filed a Petition for Rulemaking (PRM) asking the FCC to amend its Part 97 Amateur Service rules to incorporate the provisions of the Amateur Radio Parity Act. The Petition has not yet been assigned a rule making (RM) number and is not yet open for public comment. In the past, the FCC has said that it would not take such action without guidance from the US Congress, but, as ARRL’s Petition notes, Congress “has overwhelmingly and consistently” offered bipartisan support for the Amateur Radio Parity Act.

“Private land use regulations which either prohibit or which do not accommodate the installation and maintenance of an effective outdoor antenna in residences of Amateur Service licensees are unquestionably the most significant and damaging impediments to Amateur Radio Service communications that exist now,” ARRL said in its Petition. “They are already precluding opportunities for young people to become active in the avocation and to conduct technical self-training and participate in STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] learning activities inherent in an active, experiential learning environment. Without the relief in this Petition, the future of Amateur Radio is bleak indeed.” The proposed amendments would have no effect on the FCC’s limited preemption policy in §97.15(b), which pertains to state and municipal governing bodies, ARRL said.

Specifically, ARRL is proposing that the FCC amend Part 97 by adding a new subsection under §97.15 that prohibits and ceases the enforcement of “any private land use restriction, including restrictive covenants and regulations imposed by a community association,” that either fails to permit a licensee to install and maintain an effective outdoor antenna capable of operation on all Amateur Radio frequency bands; on property under the exclusive use or control of the licensee; precludes or fails to permit Amateur Service communications, or which does not constitute the minimum practicable restriction on such communications to accomplish the lawful purposes specifically articulated in the declaration of covenants of a community association seeking to enforce such restriction. ARRL’s proposed rule would not affect any existing antenna approved or installed before the effective date of a Report and Order resulting from ARRL’s petition.

The proposed provisions reflect the accommodation reached in the ultimate version of the Parity Act bill at the urging of federal lawmakers between ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI), the only organization representing homeowners’ associations. “That legislation was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives four separate times and has the support of the Senate Commerce Committee and the current Administration,” ARRL stressed.

“Private land use regulations are not ‘contracts’ in the sense that there is any meeting of the minds between the buyer and seller of land,” ARRL said. “Rather, they are simply restrictions on the use of owned land, imposed by the developer of a subdivision… They bind all lots in the subdivision.” ARRL noted in its Petition that an increasing number of homes available for purchase today are already subject to restrictive covenants prohibiting outdoor antennas.

In addition, ARRL pointed out that the Telecommunications Act of 1996 gives the FCC jurisdiction “to preempt private land use regulations that conflict with federal policy…”

“It is now time for actual and functional parity in the Commission’s regulations in order to protect the strong federal interest in Amateur Radio communications,” ARRL said. Read more.


UPDATE September 8, 2018

Contact Senator Nelson Now to Suport the Amateur Radio Parity Act

Amateur Radio Parity Act
September 8, 2018

Dear Florida ARRL member:

We have asked you before to write to Florida Senator Bill Nelson to ask him to remove his hold on the Amateur Radio Parity Act. You have responded perfectly each time. We are going to ask you to help ARRL get the Parity Act across the finish line one more time. Here is where we are: The Parity Act has passed unanimously in the House of Representatives four separate times. Most recently, it passed the House as part of the FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act (FSGG). It was not included in the Senate version of
that Bill, however, so now, both bills having passed in their respective houses of Congress, a joint committee of House and Senate conferees have to agree on the final version of the FSGG, and resolve the differences in the two, before the FSGG goes to the President for signature.

We are working hard to ensure that the Parity Act remains in the final version of this Bill. We are encouraged, but we are making one last effort to ask Senator Nelson to support Amateur Radio. If this effort is not successful, we have other plans to get this important relief for Amateur Radio operators, but it would be best if we could get the Bill passed right now as part of the FSGG. The White House absolutely supports the Parity Act.

Please go to https://arrl.rallycongress.net/  to contact Senator Nelson and help us finish this. We really need your help once more. Thanks and 73,

Mike Lisenco, N2YBB
Chair, ARRL Legislative Affairs Committee

——————————————————————–
ARRL Northern Florida Section
Section Manager: Kevin J Bess, KK4BFN
[email protected]
——————————————————————–


UPDATE July 25, 2018

Parity Act Options Open Despite Removal from Defense Authorization Act Conference Report

07/25/2018 ARRL Hudson Division Director and ad hoc Legislative Advocacy Committee Chair Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, says removal of Amateur Radio Parity Act (HR 555) language from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report this week was unfortunate, but does not kill the initiative. The Parity Act would ask the FCC to grant radio amateurs living in deed-restricted communities the right to install effective outdoor antennas. Lisenco said today that while the language was removed from the final NDAA Conference Report, other viable options remain to see the Parity Act succeed.“We were disappointed the Parity language didn’t survive the conference process, but we do have other House-passed legislative vehicles that contain the language, including the Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill, which funds the FCC,” Lisenco said.

“We have always known that getting this legislation across the finish line was going to take a lot of effort,” Lisenco said. “The legislative process is sometimes frustrating for ARRL members, but there is a way that our membership can be directly involved,” Lisenco explained. “By contacting your Representative and Senators and telling them you want their support for the Amateur Radio Parity Act, you can help lend thousands of voices to echo the work of the ad hoc Legislative Advocacy Committee on Capitol Hill,” Lisenco urged.

“It’s not unusual for legislation to stall in Congress. To remove the logjam, we need our elected representatives in both chambers to know how much of a priority this bill is for our avocation,” Lisenco explained. “The continued active support of ARRL members is critical in order to do that.”

Lisenco said that Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) has been the lead obstructionist during several stages of efforts to enact the Amateur Radio Parity Act, which has passed the US House of Representatives four times. Lisenco further added that that Nelson’s opposition makes no sense as Florida desperately needs effective Amateur Radio disaster communications during hurricanes, and hurricane season is rapidly approaching.

ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay said the House-passed version of the NDAA included the Parity Act language, but the Senate bill did not, and a House-Senate conference committee had to resolve a variety of differences in the two passed bills. He said the Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member was one of the “Big Four” who would have had to agree to keep the Parity Act in the final NDAA Conference Report, but unfortunately, he deferred to Nelson on the matter; without Senator Nelson’s inexplicable opposition to our bill, it would have passed Congress long ago.

Imlay has assured ARRL members that the Parity Act would be beneficial to the many thousands of Amateurs now living in deed-restricted communities, as it would allow those hams to erect effective outdoor antennas notwithstanding the preclusive language of covenants or homeowner association (HOA) regulations.

“That is the principal benefit of this legislation,” he said. “As I see it, without the Parity Act, Amateur Radio will, over a relatively short period of time, face death by a thousand cuts, as more and more communities are subject to private land use regulations that prohibit antennas entirely.”

Lisenco said it was important to keep the legislative efforts in context. “A decade ago, our bill was being introduced every 2 years and gathering less than 2 dozen cosponsors before being forgotten and tossed in the heap. Since we’ve created the ad hoc Legislative Advocacy Committee, we have seen the bill pass the House of Representatives four times in less than 2 years and come within a hair of the President’s desk,” Lisenco continued. “Momentum is clearly on our side, and the wind is at our backs. We need our membership’s active engagement to provide that final push to propel the Parity Act across the finish line.”

Source:  http://www.arrl.org/news/view/parity-act-options-open-despite-removal-from-defense-authorization-act-conference-report


UPDATE June 1, 2018

Politico Article Raises Visibility of Amateur Radio Parity Act Progress, Challenges

06/01/2018 On May 23, the US House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that included the language of the Amateur Radio Parity Act (HR 555) cleared the House. The following day, a fiscal year 2019 Financial Services appropriations bill also containing Parity Act language cleared the Financial Services and General Government subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations and now is working its way through the full Appropriations Committee. As a result, the Parity Bill has attracted some attention from outside the Amateur Radio and homeowners association communities.

ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who chairs the ARRL Board’s Ad Hoc Legislative Advocacy Committee, called attention to a recent Politico article that addresses the challenges the bill faces.

On May 25, Politico reported, “Lawmakers are making a multi-pronged push to drive the bipartisan Amateur Radio Parity Act through Congress and finally bypass objections from top Senate Commerce [Committee] Democrat Bill Nelson of Florida, whose allegiance to his state’s homeowners’ associations drove his panel to yank the bill from consideration last fall. The legislation, H.R. 555, would direct the FCC to let Amateur Radio operators get around private rules, like those imposed by some HOAs, that keep them from putting up radio antennas.”

Politico cited a spokeswoman for the US House sponsor of the Parity Act, Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), who told the journal that Kinzinger is “hopeful that Senator Nelson will see its value.”

“When disaster strikes and the power goes out, like when Hurricane Irma hit Senator Nelson’s home state of Florida back in September, Amateur Radio operators become critical to emergency response efforts,” Kinzinger’s spokeswoman said.

At this point, it’s unclear how the Parity Act language or legislation will fare in the US Senate. The measure’s Senate sponsor, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), told Politico that it would suit him to see the Senate follow the lead of the House in the matter. “I think we’ve done enough that Senator Nelson’s concerns should have been answered,” Wicker was quoted as saying.

Wicker and Nelson are both senior members of the Armed Services Committee, which will oversee the NDAA.

ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, stressed earlier this month that the Parity Act “does entitle each and every Amateur Radio operator living in a deed restricted community to erect an effective outdoor antenna. Full stop. That is the principal benefit of this legislation.” Imlay pointed out that tens of thousands of ham radio licensees at present cannot erect any outdoor antenna at all. “This [bill] enables them in the same way PRB-1 has enabled hams to address unreasonably restrictive zoning ordinances during the past 33 years,” Imlay said.

Source:  http://www.arrl.org/news/politico-article-raises-visibility-of-amateur-radio-parity-act-progress-challenges


UPDATE May 11, 2018

SB QST ARL ARLB011
ARLB011 Amateur Radio Parity Act Language Inserted in National Defense Authorization Act

ARRL is praising the work of US Representatives Joe Courtney (D-CT), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), and Mike Rogers (R-AL) for their successful efforts in securing language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 that aids in the survival and growth of Amateur Radio by giving radio amateurs the right to install an outdoor antenna at their residences with the approval of their homeowners associations. This language – text from the proposed Amateur Radio Parity Act (HR 555) – formed the basis for the Courtney-Hartzler-Rogers Amendment to the NDAA.

The amendment, offered by the bipartisan trio and accepted by the House Armed Services Committee by voice vote, will ensure that Amateur Radio operators will continue to play a vital role in disaster communication, when called upon. Amateur Radio has long-standing relationships with the Department of Defense through both the Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS) as well as spectrum sharing.

The Armed Services Committee passed the NDAA by a 60-to-1 voice vote after a 14-hour markup that ran well into the night. The bill now awaits House floor action. The Senate will begin its markup of the NDAA during the week of May 21.

Representatives Courtney and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) spearheaded the effort to include the Parity Act language in the NDAA. Both are cosponsors of the Parity Act, which has passed the House by voice vote twice in the past 2 years.

Recognizing the long-standing relationship between Amateur Radio and the Department of Defense, Congressman Kinzinger – who served multiple tours for the USAF as a fighter pilot and is still a Major in the Air National Guard, and Courtney, who represents the House district that includes ARRL Headquarters, have been champions of the legislation in Congress.

“The steadfast support of the Amateur Radio community continually demonstrated by Congressmen Kinzinger and Courtney has been a godsend,” said Hudson Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB. “The Parity Act wouldn’t be anywhere close to this stage without their strong support, and our organization is extremely grateful.”

Lisenco, who serves as Chairman of the ARRL Board’s Legislative Advocacy Committee, also recognized other promoters of Amateur Radio, including House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX). “We are deeply grateful for their continued understanding and support,” Lisenco said.

ARRL will continue to press for support to enact the Amateur Radio Parity Act throughout the legislative process.


UPDATE February 8, 2018

ARRL News February 1, 2018
ARRL Suggests FCC May Need to Intervene to Ensure Effective Antenna Rights

Commenting in response to an FCC Public Notice (DA 17-1180) released last month, ARRL addressed the extent of Amateur Radio’s response to recent hurricane disasters and efforts needed to expand the use of Amateur Radio services when it comes to planning, testing, and providing emergency communication. The comments point out that Amateur Radio not only has been “far more than a hobby;” it is a ubiquitous, infrastructure-independent communication resource that’s always ready to deploy effectively whenever and wherever needed. The League cited the remarks of former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, that Amateur Radio “oftentimes is our last line of defense.” ARRL raised three areas where action by the FCC could ensure and enhance the ability of radio amateurs to provide emergency communication, including the current Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 (S. 1534), now in the US Senate.

“HOAs can preclude amateur antennas in common areas. HOAs can enact reasonable written rules governing height, location, size and aesthetic impact of, and installation requirements for, outdoor antennas and support structures for amateur communications, but the effective outdoor antenna requirement is paramount,” ARRL noted in its comments. “The bill is currently before the Senate Commerce Committee. If, however, Congress is unable, as has been rumored, to pass any telecommunications legislation this term, it will be incumbent on the Commission to take the action on its own initiative that would be called for by this legislation. The future of Amateur Radio emergency communications is dependent on it.”

ARRL asserted that it “is critical to have stations located at one’s residence in order to regularly participate in disaster preparedness training exercises and drills.”


UPDATE February 1, 2018

ARRL Letter February 1, 2018
ARRL Hudson Division Director Promotes Amateur Radio Parity Act Before Senate Committee

ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, testified on January 25 before a session of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation regarding Amateur Radio’s readiness to respond in an emergency. The session, “This is not a Drill: An Examination of Emergency Alert Systems,” was called in the wake of an incoming missile warning erroneously released in Hawaii in January. Lisenco said Amateur Radio played a role not only in responding to the warning but in disseminating word that the missile alert had been issued by mistake.

Lisenco said the Hawaii Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) activated on UHF and via a VHF inter-island repeater network, and amateur stations monitored the alert and cancellation activity, which came less than 1 day after RACES had completed an Amateur Radio communication exercise at the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC). In his written testimony, Lisenco recounted that the situation after the missile warning in Hawaii was chaotic.

“The phone lines into the State EOC were soon overwhelmed and congested, and the website was overwhelmed with public inquiries,” he said. Lisenco said that in such situations, Amateur Radio volunteers are typically present at state or county EOCs and at the State Warning Point, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. He pointed out that the cancellation of the false warning circulated on various information outlets 13 minutes after the missile warning went out.

“That was picked up and relayed through the Amateur Radio networks,” he told the Committee in written testimony. “The cell phone alert system could not be used for the cancellation notice until prior FEMA approval was obtained. Once that was obtained, the cancellation alert went out to the cell phone network after 38 minutes from the initial alert.”

“Many people had received the warning first on their cell phones through the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system, but a cancellation on that same system was substantially delayed,” Lisenco said. “The result was that Amateur Radio networks disseminated validated cancellation information long before the cellular networks were able to do so.”

Lisenco took the opportunity to address how private land-use regulations can preclude Amateur Radio disaster response capabilities.

“There is no substitute for the ready availability of a residential Amateur Radio station in daily operation from a licensee’s residence,” he said. “The licensee cannot be expected to have the ability to communicate into or from a disaster site unless he or she has a station with an effective outdoor antenna capable of operation on multiple frequency bands at once, which is ready to be pressed into service from the licensee’s residence at a moment’s notice.”

Lisenco reminded the panel members that the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 is now pending before the Committee. “We are in desperate need of this legislation, and without it, the volunteer emergency communications services provided by Amateur Radio will be precluded. We urge the Committee in the strongest terms to please approve and send this legislation forward without delay,” Lisenco said.

Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, a cosponsor with Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, of the Amateur Radio Parity Act, attended the hearing. Responding to a question from Wicker at the hearing, Lisenco pointed out that an early US Coast Guard warning cancellation notice was relayed to Amateur Radio networks and disseminated quickly, while the State Warning Point waited to obtain FEMA authorization to rescind the warning via cellular phones. As a result, Amateur Radio networks were able to disseminate validated cancellation information long before the cellular networks could. Wicker issued a statement noting Lisenco’s testimony and posted a video clip of his exchange with Lisenco. Read more.


UPDATE November 30, 2017

ARRL Letter November 30, 2017
Status Report: The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017

The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 – S. 1534 is alive, but with legislative action slowed to a glacial pace on Capitol Hill in recent months, there’s been no real progress to report since this past summer. At present, the bill is under consideration by the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and it remains an active concern for ARRL. The League is working diligently to shake the bill loose and move it forward.

While it may appear that time is short, S. 1534 does not need to pass the Senate by year’s end. The bill remains in play until the current session of Congress adjourns, which doesn’t happen until December 31, 2018. Once the bill has been passed by both chambers, the FCC would still have to implement its essence in the Part 97 Amateur Service rules.

Introduced on July 12, S. 1534 marked another step forward for the landmark legislation. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sponsored the bill in the Senate. The US House version of the legislation, HR 555, passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent last January.


UPDATE October 2, 2017

ARRL EMAIL October 2, 2017
Subject: ARRL Members in Florida: we need your help today

To All Our ARRL Members in Florida,

The Amateur Radio Parity Act is moving through the Senate – and your help is needed to ensure that Senator Bill Nelson, your Senator, supports this critical legislation.

On Wednesday, October 4, the bill, S. 1534, will be considered by the Senate Commerce Committee – a procedure necessary to bring it to the floor of the full Senate. As the Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee, Senator Nelson plays a significant role in the legislative process. His support is imperative for the Amateur Radio Parity Act to pass.

As you may recall, Senator Nelson opposed the Amateur Radio Parity Act back in 2015. S. 1534 has widespread bipartisan support. You can help Senator Nelson understand that this legislation is CRITICAL to emergency communications in Florida and important to tens of thousands of his constituents.

You are one of well over 40,000 licensed Amateur Radio Operators living in Florida. Many of you already live in deed-restricted communities, and that number grows daily.

We need you to reach out to Senator Nelson TODAY! RIGHT AWAY.

First, write him using this link:
https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-florida-senators-to-supports-1534-amateur-radio

Feel free to use the template, or write using your own thoughts and concerns.

Second, CALL HIS OFFICE ON THE PHONE, tell him you’re a constituent, that you support S.1534, and implore him to SUPPORT THE AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT.

Here are his phone numbers. Please call your local office AND the Washington D.C. office.

Office Phone
Washington D.C.
Broward
Fort Myers
Jacksonville
Miami-Dade
Orlando
Tallahassee
Tampa
West Palm Beach
202-224-5274
954-693-4851
239-334-7760
904-346-4500
305-536-5999
407-872-7161 or toll free in Florida: 1-888-671-4091
850-942-8415
813-225-7040
561-514-0189

Please take action! Thank you.
73
Rick Roderick, K5UR
ARRL President



UPDATE August 8, 2017

A Message from ARRL President Rick Roderick

August 8, 2017
Dear ARRL Member:

Based on feedback I’ve received, it seems to me that some members still don’t fully understand certain features of the Amateur Radio Parity Act (ARPA) and what it is meant to do. To make things clearer, we have developed an FAQ in the format of questions and answers. Please take a few minutes and read the FAQ to learn more about the ARPA.

Here is the direct link:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/The%20Amateur%20Radio%20Parity%20Act%20FAQ.pdf

Here is another link with additional information:
http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act

Thanks to those of you who have written your Senators in support of the ARPA. If you have not done so, please do so by clicking on the link below. It only takes a minute.

https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-us-senate-to-support-amateur-radio-parity-act

Thanks. Let’s keep the effort moving!

73,

Rick – K5UR
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Rick Roderick, K5UR
President
ARRL – The national association for Amateur Radio®


UPDATE July 26, 2017

ARRL President Issues Call for Members to Reach Out to their Senators to Support S. 1534

——– Original message ——–
From: ARRL Web site <[email protected]
Date: 7/26/17 11:55 AM (GMT-05:00) 
To: [email protected] 
Subject: ARRL Request to Contact Your US Senators Supporting S 1534 – the Amateur Radio Parity Act
Dear ARRL member,
I am writing to you today because we are at a crossroad in our efforts to obtain passage of The Amateur Radio Parity Act.
Our legislative efforts scored a major victory in our campaign when The Amateur Radio Parity Act, S. 1534 now moves to the Senate, where we need every Senator to approve the bill.  This is the companion Bill to H.R. 555, which passed in the House of Representatives in January.
You are one of over 730,000 licensed Amateur Radio Operators living in the United States.  Many of you already live in deed-restricted communities, and that number grows daily.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL HAMS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS!
•       If you want to have effective outdoor antennas but are not currently allowed to do so by your Home Owner’s Association, SEND THESE EMAILS TODAY!!
•       If you already have outdoor antennas, but want to support your fellow hams, SEND THESE EMAILS TODAY!!
•       If you want to preserve your ability to install effective outdoor antennas on property that you own, SEND THESE EMAILS TODAY!!
We need you to reach out to your Senators TODAY!  Right away.
Help us in the effort.  Please go to this linked website and follow the prompts:
Thank you.
73,
Rick
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Rick Roderick, K5UR
President

ARRL – The national association for Amateur Radio®


UPDATE July 25, 2017

ARRL President Issues Call for Members to Reach Out to their Senators to Support S. 1534
07/25/2017
ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, is calling on League members to urge their US Senators
to support the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017, S. 1534. ARRL has opened a RallyCongress
page to simplify the task.
“[W]e are at a crossroad in our efforts to obtain passage of The Amateur Radio Parity Act,”
Roderick said. He said the campaign to secure passage of the bill scored a major victory earlier
this year when H.R. 555 passed unanimously in the US House of Representatives. Obtaining
passage of the companion Senate bill, S. 1534, is the final legislative hurdle.
“Now is the time for all hams to get involved in the process!” Roderick said. “Many of you
already live in deed-restricted communities, and that number grows daily.”
He urged radio amateurs now restricted by a Homeowners Association from installing effective
outdoor antennas to visit the RallyCongress site and e-mail their two US Senators. He also
encouraged those not now affected by deed covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) to
support their fellow radio amateurs by doing the same.
“If you want to help create an opportunity – not available before now – for Amateurs who live in
deed restricted communities to install effective outdoor antennas on property that you own or
lease, send these e-mails today!” Roderick said. “We need you to reach out to your Senators
today. Right away.”
S. 1534 was introduced in the US Senate on July 12, marking another step forward for this
landmark legislation. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are the
Senate sponsors. The measure will, for the first time, guarantee all radio amateurs living in deedrestricted
communities governed by a Homeowners Association (HOA) or subject to any private
land-use regulations, the right to erect and maintain effective outdoor antennas at their homes,
while protecting the aesthetic concerns of HOAs.

UPDATE July 12, 2017

Amateur Radio Parity Act is Introduced in US Senate

The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 was introduced in the US Senate on July 12, marking another step forward for this landmark legislation. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are the Senate sponsors. The measure will, for the first time, guarantee all radio amateurs living in deed-restricted communities governed by a homeowners’ association (HOA) or subject to any private land-use regulations, the right to erect and maintain effective outdoor antennas at their homes. The Senate bill, S. 1534, is identical to H.R. 555, which passed the US House of Representatives in January.

“Amateur Radio continues to be a critical part of our emergency communications operations,” Wicker said. “Mississippians learned firsthand after Hurricane Katrina how Amateur Radio operators can provide a resilient, distributed network to first responders and disaster relief organizations when other communications tools fail.”

“Amateur Radio operators provide an invaluable service to their communities by assisting local emergency communication efforts when disasters occur and main lines are down,” Blumenthal said. “This bipartisan measure ensures that operators have access to the tools they need to support our first responders when lives are at stake.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai applauded the bill in late January, saying that it would “help Amateur Radio operators, and take several steps to promote public safety.”

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, expressed the League’s appreciation to the Senate sponsors. “ARRL is grateful for the support of Senators Wicker and Blumenthal for sponsoring this important piece of legislation, and for advocating this bill for the past 3 years,” he said. “Their continuing support is critical to the success of our efforts.” President Roderick also thanked Senator John Thune (R-SD), who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, for “championing the Parity Act in the Senate since the beginning of our effort.”

The bill has enjoyed widespread, bipartisan support. In the 114th Congress, nearly 130 cosponsors signed onto the legislation in the House and the Senate. The legislation, which strikes a carefully crafted balance for all concerned parties, is the result of months of work culminating in the accord reached by ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI). The measure provides for the guarantee of an effective outdoor antenna while protecting the aesthetic concerns of HOAs.

In a statement, ARRL said it looks forward to working with the bipartisan leadership of the Senate and the Commerce Committee to help move the Wicker-Blumenthal legislation through the Senate and to the President’s desk.


UPDATE January 26, 2017

Amateur Radio Parity Act Speeds to U.S. House Passage, Heads to U.S. Senate

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ARLB006 Amateur Radio Parity Act Speeds to U.S. House Passage, Heads to U.S. Senate

Just 10 days after being introduced, the 2017 Amateur Radio Parity Act legislation, H.R. 555, passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week on unanimous consent under a suspension of House rules.

The bill’s language is identical to that of the 2015 measure, H.R. 1301, which won House approval late last summer after attracting 126 co-sponsors, but failed to clear the U.S. Senate last fall as the 114th Congress wound down. The new bill, again sponsored by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), was introduced on January 13 with initial co-sponsorship by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), who chairs the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 555 can be found on the web at, https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/555?r=27 .

“The grassroots effort of Amateur Radio operators across this nation in support of the Amateur Radio Parity Act has been remarkable, nothing like we have ever seen before,” ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said. “To all hams, keep going! Now is the time to charge forward with that same momentum to the Senate. We can do it!”

The bill arrives in the U.S. Senate with ample time in which to garner its approval through an education campaign.

“We’re very encouraged by the speed with which this bill made it through the House. It’s amazing that this happened,” said ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who has been at the forefront of the legislative initiative. “With the help of ARRL members, we believe we can get this done,” Lisenco continued. “We came within a hair’s breadth last time, with 110,000 e-mails to members of both houses of Congress, as well as letters and telephone calls. Member participation in this final push is critical.”

H.R. 555 calls on the FCC to establish rules prohibiting the application of deed restrictions that preclude Amateur Radio communications on their face or as applied. Deed restrictions would have to impose the minimum practicable restriction on Amateur Radio communications to accomplish the lawful purposes of homeowners association seeking to enforce the restriction.

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UPDATE January 25, 2017

New FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Offers Praise for H.R. 555, Other Telecoms Bills

Newly designated FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (see below) praised the House action on H.R. 555 and other telecommunications-related legislation that cleared the chamber on Monday.

“I want to commend the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a number of important, bipartisan telecom bills yesterday,” Pai said on January 24.

“These bills will help bring greater efficiency to the Commission, provide consumers with greater protections, improve rural call completion, help Amateur Radio operators, and take several steps to promote public safety,” he continued, adding, “I look forward to working with Congress on these and other important issues as Chairman of the FCC.”

President Donald Trump named the 44-year-old telecommunications attorney, — who has served on the Commission since 2012 and is its senior member — to succeed chairman Tom Wheeler, who stepped down on Inauguration Day, January 20. Pai is the FCC’s 34th chairman.

Pai will chair his first open meeting of the Commission on Tuesday, January 31.


UPDATE January 17, 2017

New “Amateur Radio Parity Act” Bill Introduced in US House of Representatives

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ARLB005 New “Amateur Radio Parity Act” Bill Introduced in US House of Representatives

H.R. 555 – a new “Amateur Radio Parity Act” bill – has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill’s language is identical to that of the 2015 measure, H.R. 1301, which passed in the House late last summer but failed in the waning days of the US Senate to gain the necessary support. As with H.R. 1301, the new measure introduced on January 13 in the 115th Congress was sponsored by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), with initial co-sponsorship by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR). Walden now chairs the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, to which the new bill has been referred. H.R. 555 will get an initial airing in the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. When H.R. 1301 came up in committee, Walden spoke forcefully in favor of the measure, which ultimately attracted 126 House cosponsors.

Information on H.R. 555 can be found on the web at, https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/555?r=27 .

“Rep. Kinzinger has again stepped forward to introduce this important legislation,” said ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF. “Kinzinger’s commitment stems from exposure to what the Amateur Radio community brings to the service of all communities. The ARRL and radio amateurs nationwide owe Rep. Kinzinger a resounding ‘Thank You!’ for his efforts on their behalf.”

H.R. 555 calls on the FCC to establish rules prohibiting the application of deed restrictions that preclude Amateur Radio communications on their face or as applied. Deed restrictions would have to impose the minimum practicable restriction on Amateur Radio communications to accomplish the lawful purposes of homeowners association seeking to enforce the restriction.

The ARRL Board of Directors is expected to discuss the pending legislation when it meets January 20-21.


UPDATE December 15, 2016

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) Kills Amateur Radio Parity Act Bill

Amateur Radio Parity Act Bill Unable to Overcome Florida Senator’s Objections

The Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301, suffered an unbefitting demise on December 9 as the 114th Congress drew to a close. After passing the House of Representatives on a unanimous vote earlier this fall, the bill stalled in the Senate due to the intervention of only one member, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). The measure would have directed the FCC to extend its rules relating to reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications to private land-use restrictions, such as covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) imposed by homeowners associations.

“[During 2016] Nelson received thousands of e-mails, letters, and phone calls from concerned constituents asking for his support of H.R. 1301. Numerous meetings were held with his senior staff in an effort to move the legislation forward,” ARRL said in a news release. “Negotiations, which led to an agreement with the Community Associations Institute (CAI), the national association of homeowner’s associations and publicly supported by CAI and ARRL, were brushed aside by Sen. Nelson as irrelevant.”

In a final meeting with Nelson’s staff as the 114th Congress neared adjournment, it became clear that no matter what was said or done, the Senator would oppose the bill and refuse to allow it to move forward. Because the measure had not been put on the floor schedule, the only way it could have passed the Senate would have been through a process called “unanimous consent.” A Senate member may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside rules and expedite proceedings. If any single Senator objects, though, the request is rejected.

The unhappy ending followed nearly 2 years of intense effort on the part of ARRL and thousands of its members, who contacted their Congressional representatives to urge their support of the measure on Capitol Hill. The ARRL Board of Directors is expected to discuss the future of the initiative at its January meeting.

Source:

The ARRL Letter
December 15, 2016


UPDATE December 1, 2016

ARRL Issues Urgent Last Call to Press for Senate Passage of Amateur Radio Parity Act

It’s now down to the wire: ARRL has issued a last call for members to urge their US Senators to support the Amateur Radio Parity Act (H.R. 1301) when it comes up during the “lame duck” session of Congress that adjourns in a couple of weeks. The House of Representatives approved the bill in September, and the Senate must follow suit if the bill is to succeed. If it fails in the Senate, the entire process will have to be repeated in the new Congress. The legislation is now in the Senate in two forms – as H.R. 1301 and alternately in the packaged bill S. 253

“We are on our final push for the Amateur Radio Parity Act before Congress adjourns,” said ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR. “The grassroots effort by the Amateur Radio community has been outstanding. Since September, over 110,000 emails have been sent to legislators in Congress. Thanks to everyone who has helped, but we can’t stop now. Please, keep the e-mails coming and also work the phones down the stretch. Call your Senators! We are almost there.

Let’s get it done!”

ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who chairs the ARRL Board’s Legislative Advocacy Committee and has been heavily involved in efforts to move H.R. 1301 forward, echoed President Roderick’s sentiments. He said the bill was just starting to build momentum in the Senate following its unanimous passage in the House, when Congress shut down for the 4 weeks prior to Election Day. He pointed out that H.R. 1301 has received broad support from both parties.

Lisenco had a special request of Florida radio amateurs. “Please write and call Sen. Bill Nelson and demand that he remove his hold on H.R. 1301 and support passage of this critical legislation.”

Urging your US Senators’ support is simple: Go to our Rally Congress page at, https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-us-senate-to-pass-amateur-radio-parity-act, enter your ZIP code, fill in your name and address, press enter, and e-mails will go directly to your Senators. Members may do this even if they have already contacted their US Senators for support.

There are no guarantees, Lisenco has pointed out. “In order to have a chance at overcoming political obstacles that have little or nothing to do with the legislation, we need our voices to be heard,” he said. “And we need that input today!”

President Roderick urged members to “reach out one more time to your Senators today! Right away Right now!”

September’s victory in the US House culminated many years of effort on ARRL’s part to gain legislation that would enable radio amateurs living in deed-restricted communities to erect efficient outdoor antennas that support Amateur Radio communication. The measure calls on the FCC to amend its Part 97 rules “to prohibit the application to amateur stations of certain private land-use restrictions, and for other purposes.”

While similar bills in past years gained some traction on Capitol Hill, it was not until the overwhelming grassroots support from the Amateur Radio community for H.R. 1301, and ARRL’s relentless and strident efforts on Capitol Hill that this bill made it this far.


UPDATE November 16, 2016

Urge the U.S. Senate to Pass the Amateur Radio Parity Act

Ask your Senator to support the Amateur Radio Parity Act when it comes to the Senate floor during the lame duck session.

Time is of the essence!  The Amateur Radio Parity Act, having successfully cleared the US House, now awaits action in the US Senate.  If the bill is not passed before the Senate adjourns for the year in December, it will “die” and we have to begin the entire process in both houses of Congress when the 115th Congress is sworn in come January 2017.

Please use the link https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-us-senate-to-pass-amateur-radio-parity-act to contact your US Senators and request they support the bill when it comes to the Senate floor during the “lame duck” session, between now and mid-December’s adjournment.


UPDATE September 14, 2016

Amateur Radio Parity Act Passes in the US House of Representatives!

09/14/2016

“The bill is passed without objection.” With those words, Amateur Radio history was made on September 12, when the US House of Representatives approved the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301 on a voice vote under a suspension of the rules. The focus of the campaign to enact the legislation into law now shifts to the US Senate. The House victory culminated many years of effort on ARRL’s part to gain legislation that would enable radio amateurs living in deed-restricted communities to erect antennas that support Amateur Radio communication. The measure calls on the FCC to amend its Part 97 rules “to prohibit the application to amateur stations of certain private land-use restrictions, and for other purposes.” While similar bills in past years gained some traction on Capitol Hill, it was not until the overwhelming grassroots support from the Amateur Radio community for H.R. 1301 shepherded by ARRL that a bill made it this far. The legislation faces significant obstacles to passage in the US Senate, however.

“This is huge step in our effort to enact legislation that will allow radio amateurs who live in deed-restricted communities the ability to construct an effective outdoor antenna,” ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said. “Thanks to everyone for their help in this effort thus far. Now we must turn our full attention to getting the bill passed in the Senate.”

ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who chairs the ARRL Board’s Legislative Advocacy Committee, has been heavily involved in efforts to move H.R. 1301 forward. “This has been a multiyear effort that is finally seeing some light,” he said. “The passage of the bill in the House is a major accomplishment, due to the hard work of so many — from the rank-and-file member to the officers and directors.”

Lisenco said it’s not a time to rest on our laurels. “We are only halfway there. The focus now shifts to our effort in the Senate,” he said. “We are beginning a massive e-mail campaign in which we need every member to write their two Senators using our simplified process. You will be hearing from President Roderick and from your Directors, asking you to go to our ‘Rally Congress’ page. Using your ZIP code, e-mails will be generated much like our recent letter campaign. You’ll fill in your name and address and press Enter. The e-mails will be sent directly to your Senators without you having to search through their websites.”

Lisenco said getting these e-mails to members’ Senators is a critical part of the process. “Those numbers matter! Please help us help you by participating in this effort,” he said.

As the amended bill provides, “Community associations should fairly administer private land-use regulations in the interest of their communities, while nevertheless permitting the installation and maintenance of effective outdoor Amateur Radio antennas. There exist antenna designs and installations that can be consistent with the aesthetics and physical characteristics of land and structures in community associations while accommodating communications in the Amateur Radio services.”

During this week’s limited debate, the House bill’s sponsor, Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), thanked ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI) for reaching an agreement to move the bill forward “in a bipartisan and very positive manner.” He pointed out to his colleagues that Amateur Radio antennas are prohibited outright in some areas.

“For some this is merely a nuisance,” Kinzinger said, “but for others — those that use their Amateur Radio license for life-saving emergency communications — a dangerous situation can be created by limiting their ability to establish effective communication for those in need.”

Kinzinger said that in emergencies, hams can provide “a vital and life-saving function” when conventional communication systems are down. He also praised the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS), a US Department of Defense-sponsored program, comprised largely of Amateur Radio volunteers, that also supports communication during emergencies and disasters.

Cosponsor US Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT) also urged the bill’s passage. “This is not just a feel-good bill,” Courtney said, recounting how Hurricane Sandy brought down the power grid, and “we saw all the advanced communications we take for granted…completely fall by the wayside.” Ham radio volunteers provided real-time communication in the storm’s wake, he said, saying the legislation was a way “to rebalance things” for radio amateurs who choose to live in deed-restricted neighborhoods by enabling them to install “non-intrusive antennas.”

Courtney noted that he spoke recently with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, and said that Wheeler “strongly supports this legislation.”

Leading up to the vote, Rep Paul Tonko (D-NY) also spoke in support of the legislation, calling it a commonsense approach that would build “fairness into the equation for Amateur Radio operators” in dealing with homeowners associations.

The earlier U.S. Senate version of the Amateur Radio Parity Act, S. 1685, no longer is in play, and the Senate is expected to vote by unanimous consent on the version of H.R. 1301 that was adopted by the House on September 12.


UPDATE September 13, 2016

Urge The Senate to Support the Amateur Radio Parity Act

https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-senate-to-support-amateur-radio-parity-act


UPDATE September 12, 2016

On September 12, The US House of Representatives passed the “Amateur Radio Parity Act” to protect the rights of Radio Amateurs. Now is the time to contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to support this important legislation.


UPDATE September 11, 2016

US House to Act on Amateur Radio Parity Act Bill, H.R. 1301

09/11/2016

arpa-2The US House of Representatives will consider the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301, under a suspension of the rules on Monday, September 12. A suspension of the rules is a legislative procedure used to quickly pass non-controversial bills.

Speaking at the New England Division Convention on September 10 in Massachusetts, ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, expressed confidence that the bill would pass the House, but said the legislation would face additional hurdles in the US Senate.

In July, an amended version of the bill received a unanimous favorable report from members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. Before reporting the bill out of committee, the panel first voted to accept the amended language “in the nature of a substitute.” Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, said the substitute bill represented “a good balance” following months of meetings, hard work, and compromise, and he recommended the measure to his colleagues.

“The amendment guarantees that even in deed-restricted communities, Amateur Radio operators are able to use an effective outdoor antenna,” Walden said. “Without an effective antenna Amateur Radio operators are severely limited, so this amendment ensures that amateurs are free to pursue their passion wherever they live.”

In June, the ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI) — the national association of homeowners associations (HOAs) — announced that they had reached consensus on rhw substitute language for H.R. 1301 in an effort to move the bill through committee and to overcome objections to the companion US Senate bill, S. 1685.

For more information on H.R. 1301, visit the ARRL website.


UPDATE July 13, 2016

Amateur Radio Parity Act Receives Favorable House Energy and Commerce Committee Report

An amended version of the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301, received a unanimous favorable report on July 13 from members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill now will go to the full House for consideration. Before reporting the bill out of committee, the panel first voted to accept the amended language “in the nature of a substitute.” Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, said the substitute bill represented “a good balance” following months of meetings, hard work, and compromise, and he recommended the measure to his colleagues.

“The amendment guarantees that even in deed-restricted communities, Amateur Radio operators are able to use an effective outdoor antenna,” Walden said. “Without an effective antenna Amateur Radio operators are severely limited, so this amendment ensures that amateurs are free to pursue their passion wherever they live.”

At the same time, he continued, the measure protects the rights of those “who have chosen to live in deed-restricted communities and to set their own aesthetic and other rules.”

In early June, the ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI) — the national association of homeowners associations (HOAs) — announced that they had reached consensus on substitute language for H.R. 1301 in an effort to move it through committee and to overcome objections to the companion US Senate bill,S. 1685. The offices of US Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), the bill’s sponsor, Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Walden mediated and offered assistance.

“While it’s rare to have two groups with opposing viewpoints walk away from legislation happy, by golly, I think we’ve done it here,” Walden concluded. He said the nature of the substitute represented “the best of what our committee can do when we work together in bipartisan compromise that meets the needs of all parties involved.”

In her remarks, Eshoo said she was glad that an agreement was reached on the language of the bill, which she initially feared would violate the rights of homeowners associations. “We found a balance that works for all stakeholders,” she said. She called ARRL and CAI “the bookends of the effort.”

Kinzinger called the amended bill “a good amendment that strikes the right balance.”


UPDATE June 22, 2016

Amateur Radio Parity Act Set for House Energy and Commerce Committee Markup

[UPDATED: 2016-06-23 @ 1408 UTC] The Amateur Radio Parity Act (H.R. 1301) is among five bills that the US House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled for a “full committee” markup. The markup session had been scheduled for June 23, but it was postponed after the committee, with most members absent, convened on June 22 for about 10 minutes to hear opening statements. When it meets again in July for the markup session, the panel, chaired by Rep Fred Upton (R-MI), will consider H.R. 1301 and an “Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 1301.” Earlier this month, the ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI) — the national association of homeowners associations (HOAs) announced that they had reached consensus on the bill’s provisions. Rep Upton called H.R. 1301 “legislation to protect the rights of Amateur Radio operators,” in a statement he released on June 22.

“Just as the law recognizes that access to broadcast satellite communications are an important part of our national information infrastructure, so too should we recognize the role of Amateur Radio,” Upton wrote. “This is especially important as Amateur Radio operators can serve a crucial role in providing communications in the wake of natural disasters and other times when commercial communications networks might be unavailable. The underlying bill seeks to ensure that Amateur Radio operators are permitted to operate in deed-restricted communities. The amendment in the nature of a substitute under consideration represents a good-faith compromise between the two parties most impacted by this bill: Amateurs and community associations.”

Upton, who is not among the 126 cosponsors of H.R. 1301, said he was looking forward to advancing the five measures out of committee. The date of the rescheduled markup will be announced; committee sessions are streamed live.

According to ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, the substitute bill would guarantee that a radio amateur living in a deed-restricted community — including condominium or townhouse communities — could install and maintain an “effective outdoor antenna.” He said the agreement was achieved without disrupting 30 years of zoning case law that has interpreted the PRB-1 federal preemption and protected radio amateurs from overregulation by zoning authorities. The bill incorporates the basic tenets of PRB-1.

More information on the Amateur Radio Parity Act, including a copy of the complete substitute amendment agreed to by ARRL and CAI, is available on the ARRL website.


UPDATE June 21, 2016

Contact Senator Nelson to Request His Support for S.1685

To All Our ARRL Members in Florida –

I am writing to you today because we are at a critical juncture in our efforts to obtain passage of The Amateur Radio Parity Act in the U.S. Senate (S.1685).

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), is not yet supporting the legislation despite the recent agreement between ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI).  This agreement is supported by all parties to the issue and leaves no visible opposition to the bill.

However, Senator Nelson’s support is critical to the success of our efforts.

You are one of well over 40,000 licensed Amateur Radio Operators living in Florida.  Many of you already live in deed-restricted communities, and that number grows daily.

If you would like to have the opportunity to have an effective outdoor antenna but are not currently allowed to do so, or you already have outdoor antennas and want to support your fellow hams, then we need you to reach out to Senator Nelson TODAY!  Right away.

Please go to this linked website and follow the prompts. The link will provide you with a letter that you can send to Senator Nelson.

https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/contact-senator-nelson-regarding-amateur-radio-parity-act

Thank you.

73,
Rick
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Rick Roderick, K5UR
President
ARRL – The national association for Amateur Radio™


UPDATE June 9, 2016

Consensus on Bill Language

ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI) — the national association of homeowners associations (HOAs) — have reached consensus on provisions of the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301. ARRL and CAI have worked intensively since February to reach agreement on substitute language for the bill in an effort to move it through the US House Energy and Commerce Committee. Read the complete story here.


UPDATE February 10, 2016

US House Subcommittee to Consider Amateur Radio Parity Act

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ARLB006 US House Subcommittee to Consider Amateur Radio Parity Act

ZCZC AG06
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ARRL Bulletin 6  ARLB006
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 10, 2016
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB006
ARLB006 US House Subcommittee to Consider Amateur Radio Parity Act

The Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301, will be among three bills
that the US House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will
consider in a Thursday, February 11, “markup” session. The
subcommittee will gather on February 10 for opening statements only.
When it reconvenes the next day, its members could vote to send the
measure to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for further
consideration.

The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology is chaired by Rep
Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), who, during a January 12 Subcommittee
hearing on H.R. 1301, called the measure “a commonsense bill” and
urged his colleagues’ support. Subcommittee members may submit in
advance any amendments they might have to any of the bills being
considered in the February 11 markup.

The House bill’s sponsor, Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) also spoke in
favor of H.R. 1301 at the January 12 hearing, explaining that hams
in some neighborhoods “are outright prohibited” from erecting
antennas on their properties. He cited Amateur Radio’s role in
emergency communication support, and said his bill’s “reasonable
accommodation standard” would not mandate placement, size, or
esthetics regarding an outdoor antenna, leaving ham radio operators
and homeowners associations to decide those issues.

“We just simply add the same standard that has been used
successfully in municipal areas to other areas,” he concluded.

H.R. 1301 would direct the FCC to extend its rules relating to
reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications to
private land-use restrictions, such as deed covenants, conditions,
and restrictions. The bill has attracted 120 cosponsors from both
sides of the aisle. An identical US Senate measure, S. 1685, has
attracted 3 cosponsors. It cleared the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation last November.

At the ARRL National Convention February 12-14 at the Orlando
HamCation, ARRL representatives will be on hand to help visitors to
generate letters of support to members of Congress.

More information about the legislation is on the ARRL Amateur Radio
Parity Act web page at, http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act
.
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/EX


UPDATE February 4, 2016

US House Cosponsor List for Amateur Radio Parity Act Grows

The list of cosponsors for the US House version of the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 (H.R. 1301) continues to grow. The addition of Rep Stevan Pearce, KG5KIQ (R-NM), and Rep Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) as cosponsors on February 1 raises the total to 120 cosponsors. They are among four cosponsors to sign on to the bill since the start of the year. The other two are Reps Robert Brady (D-PA) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), who became cosponsors on January 12 and 13 respectively.

One of a small handful of hams in the US House, Pearce got his ham ticket in November, after reaching out to then-Rocky Mountain Division Director (now Second Vice President) Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, and New Mexico Section Manager Ed James, KA8JMW, to find out more about ham radio. He joins his House colleagues Reps Daniel Benishek, KB8TOW (R-MI), and Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), who chairs the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. During a January 12 hearing on H.R. 1301, Walden called the Amateur Radio Parity Act “a commonsense bill” and urged his colleagues to support it. Brady, Kaptur, Pearce, and O’Rourke may have heeded his advice.

A League-led effort to encourage members to urge their lawmakers to become cosponsors of the House and Senate measures continues. League representatives will be at the 2016 ARRL National ConventionFebruary 12-14 in Orlando, Florida, hosted by the Orlando HamCation, to assist members in writing their members of Congress.

H.R. 1301 would direct the FCC to extend its rules relating to reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications to private land-use restrictions, such as deed covenants, conditions, and restrictions. An identical US Senate measure, S. 1685, has attracted 3 cosponsors. It cleared the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation last November.

More information about the legislation is on the ARRL Amateur Radio Parity Act web page.


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