02/12/2016
On a voice vote, the US House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology has
sent the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301[1], to the full House Energy and
Commerce Committee with a favorable report for further consideration. The
measure was among three bills the Subcommittee considered during a February 11
"markup" session. The Subcommittee is chaired by Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR).
"I'm optimistic that we can put the finishing touches on these bills in the
weeks ahead and once again produce important, bipartisan legislation that
protects consumers, small businesses, and access to the latest communications
services," Walden said after the hearing.
During the markup session, Walden and the bill's sponsor, Rep Adam Kinzinger
(R-IL) made impassioned statements in favor of the legislation. Kinzinger said
that while he can appreciate some of the concerns expressed by those who do not
agree with his bill, he believes that the time has come to adopt a "reasonable
accommodation standard" with respect to the erection of outdoor antennas in
neighborhoods governed by private land-use restrictions.
Walden agreed. "You don't necessarily need to have a giant tower blocking
everybody's view," he pointed out to the Subcommittee. He suggested that more
modest antenna systems often are sufficient. He and Kinzinger noted that there
is common ground between proponents and opponents of the measure and that "it's
important to get this done." Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA) also spoke to recognize the
work all parties have been doing to ensure the bill's passage in the House.
At a Subcommittee hearing on H.R. 1301 last month, Walden called it "a
commonsense bill" and urged his colleagues' support. Kinzinger also spoke in
favor of H.R. 1301 at the January 12 hearing, saying that his bill's
"reasonable accommodation standard" would not mandate placement, size, or
aesthetics regarding an outdoor antenna, leaving ham radio operators and
homeowners associations to decide those issues.
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 three cosponsors. It cleared the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation last November.
At the ARRL National Convention[2]February 12-14 at the Orlando HamCation[3],
ARRL representatives will be on hand to help visitors to generate letters of
support to members of Congress. More information[4] about the legislation is on
the ARRL Amateur Radio Parity Act web page.
[1] http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c114:H.R.1301:
[2] http://www.arrl.org/expo
[3] http://www.hamcation.com/
[4] http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act
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