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SEVEN NEW STEPS TOWARD HOA ANTENNA REFORM

By Don Schellhardt KI4PMG

pioneerpath@hotmail.com

In July, several other hams joined me in starting up a new, Net-based advocacy group: HAMS FOR ACTION (HFA). We filed a Petition For Rulemaking with the FCC, urging the FCC to adopt partial overrides of the currently total bans on outdoor ham antennas by Homeowners' Associations (HOAs) and landlords. At the same time, since there is no guarantee the FCC will act on our Petition, we began to lay the groundwork for advocating Congressional legislation, more vigorously than ARRL has done so far.

Now HFA has taken 7 new steps toward passing HOA antenna reform legislation:

1. OPENING A WEB SITE -- We have opened up a new HAMS FOR ACTION Web Site at www.hamsforaction.net

2. IDENTIFYING CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORTERS OF HOA ANTENNA REFORM -- We have compiled a list of “Antenna Allies” in Congress: that is, 42 U.S. Representatives who sponsored or co-sponsored the Israel/Ross HOA antenna reform bill at least once during the last three Sessions of Congress. The complete list is being posted on http://www.freewebtown.com/amherst_alliance/index.html and www.hamsforaction.net In addition, the list is set forth at the end of this article.

3. THANKING CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORTERS OF HOA ANTENNA REFORM -- We have sent letters of commendation to all 42 of these legislators, with three variations in text that are tied to the frequency of their past support. One sample of each group of letters is being posted on www.hamsforaction.net

4. IDENTIFYING CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORTERS OF PRO-HAM LEGISLATION IN GENERAL: We have also prepared HFA CONGRESSIONAL RATINGS for all incumbent U.S. Representatives and Senators, measuring their overall support, during the last three Sessions of Congress, for legislation endorsed by ARRL. That is: We measured not just their support (or lack of support) for the HOA antenna reform bill, but also their record of support on restraining high-interference Broadband Over Powerlines (BPL) technologies and preventing a net loss of Amateur Radio frequencies to commercial interests. We found that only 12 of the 100 incumbent U.S. Senators, and 134 of the 438 incumbent U.S. Representatives, have supported any pro-ham legislation at all during the last three Sessions of Congress. Among the 34 Senators whose seats are up for re-election this year, only three have backed any pro-ham legislation in the past 6 years: Senators Daniel Akaka, D-HI, 44%; Conrad Burns, R-MT, 22%; and Olympia Snowe, R-ME, 7%. The full text of the HFA CONGRESSIONAL RATINGS is being posted on www.hamsforaction.net

5. THANKING SENATE SUPPORTERS OF PRO-HAM LEGISLATION IN GENERAL: We have sent a letter of commendation to each of the 12 U.S. Senators who provided some degree of support for pro-ham legislation during the 6-year study period. Unfortunately, we did not have the human or logistical resources to send letters to all 134 of the pro-ham legislators in the House -- but we believe HFA's resources will expand as more hams learn of our actions and choose to join HFA. In any event, the text of the letter to the 12 Senators is being posted on www.hamsforaction.net

6. ANNOUNCING THESE ACTIONS: HFA has sent a press release, announcing some of these actions, to various print publications and Web Sites. Like the other referenced documents, the press release is being posted on our Web Site.

7. GAINING COVERAGE IN RADIO WORLD: An article about HFA is being published in the November 8 edition of RADIO WORLD. The article will be accessible through a link from www.hamsforaction.net

Once again: The list of “Antenna Allies” is set forth below. If your U.S. Representative is on the list, we hope you will convey your own personal “Thank You”.

73,

Don Schellhardt KI4PMG

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“ANTENNA ALLIES” IN CONGRESS

Here is a list of the ham community's “Antenna Allies” in Congress.

This list was prepared by Don Schellhardt KI4PMG, Esquire of HAMS FOR ACTION (HFA). His E-Mail Address is pioneerpath@hotmail.com

Additional information can be found at www.hamsforaction.net

“THE PRIME 9”

These 9 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives took every opportunity, during the last 3 Sessions of Congress, to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to override total bans on ham antenna by Homeowners' Associations (HOAs):

(INTRODUCED BILL in 2002 and 2003 … CO-INTRODUCED BILL in 2005)

(CO-INTRODUCED BILL in 2005)

(Backed bill in 2005 … Not in office before then)

2-TIMES-OUT-OF-3 ANTENNA ALLIES

These 12 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsored or co-sponsored antenna ban override legislation in 2002 and 2003 -- but, for reasons unknown to HFA, failed to support this legislation in 2005:

HFA hopes these legislators will “return to the fold” in 2007, if they are re-elected.

1-TIME-OUT-OF-3 ANTENNA ALLIES

These 21 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsored or co-sponsored antenna ban override legislation only once, in either 2002 or 2003:

One-Time Sponsors or Co-Sponsors of 2003

One-Time Sponsors or Co-Sponsors of 2002

Perhaps these legislators will decide to sponsor antenna ban override legislation again, in 2007, if they are re-elected.

ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE:

Although antenna ban override bills have been introduced in the House during each of the last 3 Sessions of Congress, no Senator has introduced a “companion bill” during any of these 3 Sessions.

This fact alone demonstrates why more intensive lobbying is needed on antenna ban override legislation.

HAMS FOR ACTION was founded to provide for such lobbying by hams who care deeply about this issue.