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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
Don Schellhardt (KI4PMG)
on
January 4, 2007
View comments about this article!
HFA SPOTLIGHTS ARRL BOARD MEETING
As the current President of HAMS FOR ACTION (HFA), a new group which advocates moderating total bans on ham antenna Homeowners' Associations (HOAs),
I recently sent a letter from HFA to 3 ARRL leaders, with a copy to every Member of the ARRL Board of Directors. The letter was addressed to ARRL's 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).
Noting “a review of ARRL's overall legislative objectives” has been scheduled for the Winter Board meeting in January of 2007, HFA called upon the Board to:
“Elevate HOA antenna reform to a top public policy priority for ARRL,
comparable in importance to restraining BPL -- and more important
than enactment of the Spectrum Protection Act.”
The letter also commended the Board for acting, during its Summer Board Meeting, to initiate ARRL's new Legislative Action Program (to recruit and oversee volunteers for grassroots lobbying of Congress) … release $5,000 in new funding for grassroots lobbying … and tighten conflict-of-interest regulations for the awarding of ARRL contracts. Further, HFA's letter thanked Dave Sumner for proposing the Board's review of “overall legislative objectives” in January.
** If YOU are an ARRL Member who supports more intensive action to achieve HOA antenna reform, HFA urges you to express your views to the ARRL Director and Vice-Director for your Region -- and to do so before the January Board Meeting. **
The text of the letter to ARRL has been set forth below. In addition, as the 6th document to the right under “News Items”, the letter has been posted -- along with contact information for every Director and Vice-Director of ARRL -- on HFA's Web Site at www.hamsforaction.net
Two related documents have also been added to HFA's Web Site:
A SAMPLE LETTER which ARRL Members can use, if they choose,
as a starting point for WRITING TO ARRL BOARD MEMBERS
before the January Board Meeting
(See the 4th document to the right under “News Items”)
A SAMPLE LETTER which all interested persons can use, if they
choose, as a starting point for WRITING TO U.S. SENATORS
AND REPRESENTATIVES -- to urge them to urge the FCC to
act on HFA's July 2006 Petition For Rulemaking on HOA antenna
(See the 5th document to the right under “News Items”)
Don Schellhardt, President
2617 East Uintah Street, #D
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Chair, ARRL Legislative Program
Dear Dave, President Harrison and Director Weaver:
As you know, I am the current President of HAMS FOR ACTION (HFA). We are a recently formed group of hams, small in number but spread across the nation, who favor intensive action to achieve partial and conditional overrides of total bans on outdoor ham antennas by Homeowners' Associations (HOAs). As another objective, we also support partial and conditional overrides of similar antenna bans by landlords.
To this end, we filed a Petition For Rulemaking with the FCC in July of 2006, and we may prepare legislation for introduction in the 110th Congress if the FCC does not Docket our Petition. We also urged ARRL Board Members to take action, during their Summer Board Meeting, to assign a higher priority to HOA antenna reform and to upgrade the effectiveness of ARRL's Congressional lobbying capabilities in general.
While HFA has been critical of ARRL, at times, all of the founders of HFA, including me, are also Members of ARRL. We encourage our Members to join ARRL, or remain within it, and work inside ARRL for change. In this spirit, we commend ARRL for the steps it has taken during and after the Summer 2006 Board Meeting:
Tightening of ARRL's conflict-of-interest regulations to assure greater fairness
and efficiency in the awarding of ARRL contracts, presumably including
ARRL contracts for the hiring of outside lobbyists
Release of $5,000 in additional funding for ARRL's grassroots lobbying effort
Formation of the new ARRL Legislative Program, under the new leadership of
ARRL Board Member Jim Weaver
We were disappointed that the ARRL Board did not vote this summer on whether to upgrade the priority that is currently assigned to efforts for HOA antenna reform. We were later encouraged, however, when we learned the ARRL Board will conduct an overall review of ARRL's legislative objectives during its Winter Board Meeting.
Dave, we understand from press reports that you, personally, requested this overall review of legislative objectives. For this, HFA thanks you and commends you.
We urge ARRL's Board Members to take the following action at their Winter Meeting:
Elevate HOA antenna reform to a top public policy priority for ARRL,
comparable in importance to restraining BPL -- and more important
than enactment of the Spectrum Protection Act.
Let me add that some HFA Members are interested in joining ARRL's new Legislative Program, but first they want to know what the Program's grassroots lobbyists will be lobbying for. HFA does not ask or expect ARRL to make HOA antenna reform the exclusive focus of the program, but we seek assurance that HOA antenna reform legislation will include intensive lobbying on this issue as a major portion of the program.
As a related matter, HFA asks ARRL to consider, in consultation with Representatives Steven Israel, D-NY, and Mike Ross, D-AR, whether the ARRL-endorsed Emergency Communications Consistency Act should be amended in 2007 to make it more “marketable” politically. Notable possibilities include: (a) defining more clearly what constitutes “reasonable accommodation” of outdoor ham antennas, as a way to avoid hammering out the definition through costly and time-consuming litigation; and (b) limiting eligibility for the antenna ban overrides to hams who have been certified as trained and active Emergency Communicators.
HFA plans to remain an independent organization, but we certainly believe there is common ground where HFA and ARRL can work together. If ARRL's Board makes HOA antenna reform a top priority, comparable to BPL, the common ground will expand.
CC: Kay C. Craigie N3KN, First Vice President
Rick Roderick K5UR, Vice President
Rodney Stafford W6ROD, International Affairs Vice President
Warren G. “Rev” Morton WS7W, ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division
Brian Mileshofsky N5ZGT, ARRL Vice-Director, Rocky Mountain Division
All Other ARRL Directors and Vice-Directors
Patricia Hensley N4ROS, Vice-Director Elect, Roanoke Division
Jeff Ryan K0RM, ARRL Section Manager for Colorado
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W7ETA on January 4, 2007
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Dr OM,
I can't figure out exactly what you would like the ARRL to do about HOAs' antenna covenants.
If The League has fixed resources, do you want them to shift assets from either BPL or Spectrum Defense to HOA covenants?
Are y'all raising funds for HOA issues and want The League to add your funds to its HOA funding?
You might consider asking a more gifted "word-smith" to create your correspondence for the ARRL. Some of us labour to create "flat-footed", imprecise prose. Others, blessed by The Scribes of yore, create detailed, yet concise, focused streams of words.
73
Bob, with broken quills and a dry ink well
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KD5VHF on January 4, 2007
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Sorry but I don't see a need for the "HFA" or even the ARRL wasting time and money with HOA's. That is what U-Hauls are made for. I don't think anyone is forced into a residence unless they are incarcerated. That is like moving next to a airport then complaining about antenna height restrictions and the noise....DUH! I just don't understand why anyone would move into a place with restrictions they don't like and complain about the restrictions afterwards. MUCH LESS ask for help and funds to fight the restrictions they accepted when they closed on the house. It's simple, If you don't like the restrictions then admit you made a mistake and MOVE!
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KF7CG on January 4, 2007
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Sometimes logistics and hunger force being in HOA areas. Mid-Ohio is bad for finding a place within an hour and a tank of gas of work without HOA or other restrictions.
When I was there it was a 40 mi. one-way commute with no public transportation to get into a safe area that wasn't HOA and was under $300K. By the way I lumped Historical District in there too as they are exempt from PRB-1 also.
Sometimes if you want to feed your family you have to swallow some pretty rank crap.
I am now 15 min. from work and have minimal restrictions. An hour from any but minimal health care, but you can't have it all. Closest hospital is a "don't go there." Only a few doctors within 20 miles.
You can avoid HOAs but the cost can be high in one way or another.
KF7CG
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W9OY on January 4, 2007
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My favorite old time rig is an HT-37. I used one with a pair of 4-400's running about 5000V on the plates. I blew little holes in the plates of those tubes. I always turned the mic gain all the way up. The audio was gorgeous!!
I got board with the ARRL. They haven't got it right since the Old Man died. I doubt they have the ca-hones to stand up to 10 million blue hairs with nose trouble.
Just thought I'd add a couple of incomprehensible nonsequiturs to the above melange.
73 W9OY
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W3ULS on January 4, 2007
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If I'm not mistaken, the ARRL Board's top priority in 2006 was to obtain FCC approval for an entry-level license. It also had other "top priorities"--spectrum protection, antenna restrictions, BPL, regulation by bandwidth, etc.
As a result, the ARRL got nothing in 2006 that it said it wanted. It did get Novice "refarming," which was a live issue a few years ago but was on the ARRL back burner in 2006.
Someone at ARRL needs to force a decision on the Board to determine a true priority and stick with it--not two, three or four, but one thing.
By default, the top priority now seems to be to pay for the lawsuit the League has brought against the FCC on the BPL issue. Funding this lawsuit may well commandeer all financial resources for months to come and thus render selection of any other "top priorities" moot.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W4LGH on January 4, 2007
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Its pretty much the same way in Florida too! Unless you can afford to buy lots of acres out in the country, you are pretty much forced to live in areas around town and they ALL have CC&R's.
I think its great that someone wants to fight this, but I don't think the ARRL is the way to go. I have pretty much given up on the ARRL, who's time has come and gone. Currently I am still a member, as I had to be to maintain my position as the ARES EC for my county. A position I held for 4 yrs, but resigned from this past summer do to to much politics! HAm radio is supposed to be fun, and the ARRL has taken most of that away with all of their politics! So with about 6 months left on my membership, I will be totally thru with them. Gave up on most of the local clubs too, again politics. Now I just play radio when I want to play radio and have fun at it, like it is supposed to be.
I would be happy to sign a petition, donate some money to fighting CC&R's, but this fight needs to be done with our government directly and NOT thru the ARRL. They didn't even SLOW BPL up, they've lost any clout they had left with the FCC and have become pretty useless as far as I am concerned.
I like the previous statement "The ARRL hasn't gotten it right since the Old Man Died!" Funny but sadly TRUE!
73 de W4LGH - Alan
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KC2MJT on January 4, 2007
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I am not sure this is a direction I would like the ARRL with its limited resources to pursue. I am more concerned that the limited spectrum we enjoy will be taken by commercial activity, and worse yet, residual noise from consumer electonics.
Property rights, the peaceful enjoyment thereof and restrictive covenants is a territory that is better left to your neighborhood activist - or a community's ideals by agreement i.e. an HOA. I think you can more easily persuade property owners at the local level to collectively agree to remove a restrictive covenant than force a change on the entire nation.
If there is ever an emergency in your antenna covenanted community that requires radio, I am quite confident no one will stop you from throwing a wire into a tree or a vertical from a railing to get your message out.
Good luck.
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KG6QHP on January 4, 2007
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Whoa! While I do feel that all HOAs should be given the heav ho and made to fall under PRB-1, I do not think the ARRL is the group to do it. All politics is local. I would start with HOA board and let them know about all the fine ECOMM work done in your community. I would get letters from the red cross, the local sheriffic, OES to back up your claims. I would then make a presentation to the board and try to win them over. Get other hams to attend the meeting. It's cheaper than a lawsuit and it just may work.
If that doesn't work approach the town council, then the county etc. Climb the ladder to show your sincerity. Maybe you can put up a 1/4 wave birdfeeder. Libs like birds.
Jim, KG6R Formerly KG6QHP
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KR4WM on January 4, 2007
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QUOTE: "All Other ARRL Directors and Vice-Directors."
Do I sense some dissention within the ranks? Bringing a battle by show of force in a public forum is not something the ARRL tends to embrace. Arrrghhh, mutiny is not what a ship's captain normally responds well to. You would do well not to publicize your disagreement quite so visibly. Rather than publicly attacking the ARRL for inaction here, I think it would have been wiser for you to hold a group teleconference meeting with the ARRL executive board. This would provide the open exchange of feedback you're seeking. Posting your feud here makes it appear as if you're trying to shame the ARRL into giving you a forum. You may have a common goal, and I may be wrong, but I think you're going to discover that you just shut the door to offers of assistance from the ARRL. -KR4WM
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KR4WM on January 4, 2007
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It appears I mis-interpreted the CC line for the signature line. My mistake. -KR4WM
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W6TH on January 4, 2007
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.
The HOA and the results of the CC&R are out for a profit and our local governments are out for profits whether you pay or cannot pay your mortgage; pecuniary gain resulting from the employment of capital in any
transaction, also, returns, proceeds, or revenue, as from property or investments. This is turmed a long time investment and profit.
....................Also...............
An economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of:
production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained
chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to;
cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth. Which is called Capitalism.
..................Also...............
A system of social organization in
which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian
state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party. This is called Communism.
This is the America of today folks, sit back and let it happen. Don't worry about the next guy, just take care of yourself.
In the past you could have used The Constitution of These United States and the Bill of Rights, but sorry to say, you folks let it die and be buried. The above was to form a perfect union and to limit the power of the government, you let it die and no longer exists.
Live on and watch the new law of no smoking in your automobile as it will hit you with a heavy fine if stopped and by the law, the odor of smoke escapes from your auto.
Maybe we are lucky as it may not be as bad as the UK.
.:
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by WD0M on January 4, 2007
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More money raising/profit taking from Don, who finally did get his ham license. Just $25 will let you become a "member".
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by AF4XK on January 4, 2007
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I'd love to see Ham antennas fall under PRB-1 and watch the overbearing HOA's squirm. Unfortunately I live in a HOA area now (long story) but after recently learning the details of PRB-1 I'm seriously thinking of putting up a TV antenna just for spite (and loving it).
I hope the ARRL gets onboard.
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KC5CQD on January 4, 2007
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Although I'm no fan of HOA's and antenna restrictions, I also find it quite challenging to figure out how to build a decent, invisible antenna system on a ten by ten plot of land. Living on the Monterey Peninsula...where everyone lives in everyone else's back pocket...I've had lots of experience with this. I pissed, moaned, whined and complained every step of the way but I've always had some pretty decent wire in the air.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KX8N on January 4, 2007
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The problem I see is the fact that for this to be remotely effective, laws have to be changed at least on a state level. You can't go through and make this kind of change community by community. The fact that the amateur radio community is less than one percent of the population of the U.S. doesn't help matters much, either.
As much as we like to pat ourselves on the back just because we feel we have the potential to save the day doesn't mean that we are important enough for this kind of change on the level that it needs to be done.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by N5MZL on January 4, 2007
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I'm sorry, but I can hear the Congress and just about everyone else (non-hams, of course) all chiming in with "no one forced you to sign those deed restrictions (what "CC&Rs" are called around here) and buy that house".
Yes, I understand that some people might live in a region where it's hard to avoid such things, but don't count on that cutting much ice with the usual suspects. Because no matter what, you are still left with the fact that no one can FORCE you to buy a home that has anti-antenna deed restrictions.
It's not that the Feds can't do this; they most certain can and have already. They overrode all HOAs, landlords and local governments that had "no antenna" rules where satellite TV dishes were concerned, just to cite one example.
But there is a big difference between dealing with multi-billiondollar corporations with direct broadcast satellites in geosynchronous orbit, and millions of customers who want alternatives to dealing with the likes of Time Warner or Cox Cable, and a few thousand ham radio operators with their big beams and towers, and long runs of wire. A small matter of clout, to say the least (which is also something the ARRL doesn't seem to have much of, if they ever did).
Sorry guys, but I think this one will be a VERY hard sell...
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by AH6FC on January 4, 2007
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HOA/CCR's are a significant problem. Sure, no one forces you to sign, but many have very limited choices, particularly in new areas, ie. Arizona, Nevada. The ARRL should take a more aggressive stance on fighting CCR, ideally pushing for PRB-1 concordance.
Not sure they're ready to do it. Unfortunately, my guess, is that most hams (old timers) and ARRL hams have avoided CCR with forethought and don't have intimate knowledge as to the significant negative impact they have on amateur operations. Those of us that have returned to ham radio after an absence, or those new to the hobby are most greatly affected. I suspect the FCC feels the same, if they really care at all. I contacted my senator (Akaka) and he said CC&R's is not a problem, the FCC told him the ability to operate in emergency situations is not adversely affected by CC&R's, so basically shove'em up. Too bad, but true.
Aloha
AH6FC/7
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KI6CDF on January 4, 2007
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Those who argue that CCRs are entered into freely as part of a decision to own a home governed by HOAs fail to acknowledge the prevelance of HOAs/CCRs. In our community it is clear that local government has a vested interest in promoting HOAs since a.) HOAs reduce the cost of municipal maintenance for roads and street lighting, and b.) HOAs eliminate the burden for municipal government to deal with property owner disputes/disagreements over land/property use issues such as external antennas, color of houses, parking of vehicles, etc. Through HOAs municipal governments eliminate due process rights and replace those rights with these so-called CCRs, i.e., contractual agreements, which for the most part are entirely lop-sided and in many instances impossible to revise.
I am not a fan of government interference with private party contracts. However, in my opinion with the widespread application of CCRS and HOAs as goverment POLICY and the establishment of HOA rules and regulations that are not in the public's interest I believe that what HFA promotes is long overdue. And, I believe the ARRL and anyone else willing to assist, should work toward amending PRB-1 to provide for reasoanble accomodations for amateur antennas.
Those that scoff at this effort are likely those hams who already have their acre to put up antennas at will. Not all of us are so blessed.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by NS6Y_ on January 5, 2007
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This reminds me, I probably need to get off off my butt and look into the ARRL Diamond Club, I spend a lot on ham radio, the least I can do is kick the ARRL a little each year.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by NS6Y_ on January 5, 2007
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Hmm they won't take a check, only credit card, screw 'em. A check seemed to be good enough when I paid for my Life membership.
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KI0QM on January 5, 2007
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This again. We just had a big deal about this at election time from Don.
For everyone saying we should be in PRB1 I think there is no comparison. You can't compare a 40' tower with an all-band log and some 6m, 2m, 440 antennas to a small dish. (Yes I know you can actually put up a big TV antenna under PRB-1, but no significant numbers of people do that anymore.) PRB-1 is all about the small dish antennas and our stuff is much bigger and for almost everyone, much more "intrusive".
You agreed to them, you signed to them. Why now are you complaining about them. This is like folks that move in next to an airport and then complain about the loud noises.
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KI0QM on January 5, 2007
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Actually PRB-1 doesn't even pertain to CC&Rs. It only deals with local governments it seems.
"Note that PRB-1 does not currently cover covenant or private land use regulations."
I guess it was the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that allows TV antennas in CC&R areas. That was done because "Congress was interested in promoting competition (and thus lowering costs and improving service) in video delivery services.".
And no, I don't have my acre with no CC&Rs. I have a small wire antenna that runs long the edge of my fence. Best antenna I could put up? No. Works? You bet it does!
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KI6CDF on January 5, 2007
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I tell you what attitudes that dismiss and write-off other's issues in amateur radio is exactly why this hobby is falling flat on its face. New people not coming into the hobby? Look in the mirror what are you doing to support the fraternity?
Just another I got mine and the hell with the rest of you. By the way, the notion that CCRs entered into voluntarily might be a valid argument but did you consider the circumstance where the HOAs legislate a ham out of business after moving in? Or, have you considered the cost, time and effort to deal with unreasoanble neighbors? Oh I'm sorry I forget you don't care.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W4LGH on January 5, 2007
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We could go on and on about whether one was forced or not forced to sign a CC&R. And I don't totally agree or disagree with CC&R's. I can certainly understand limiting what someone can and can't don't, but I also believe that there should be some exceptions, as there are with every rule.
My neighboorhood went after everyone with satellite dishes. I found this funny, as it was the one thing they couldn't go after, but did and made it real tough for people for about 6months. We have NO cable here, as the cable company pulled out and went bankrupt. Everyone put in Satelite, the HOA went nuts.
Shows that the condo cops, as I like to call them, can be a tad over bearing.
I have worked out my antenna problems for the time being. And hope it lasts a while. But I do have a tri-band vertical for 6m/2m & 70cm on my chimney. Its painted flat black and in almost 3 years have heard nothing about it. My HF antennas are in the woods behind me, but that is someone elses properity, and I can lose that at anytime. Sure hope not, as I have a pretty sweet deal going back there.
73 de W4LGH - Alan
www.w4lgh.com
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KF7CG on January 5, 2007
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PRB1 currently only covers governments - county, local, or state - and only requires "reasonable accomodation." This is not unreasonable to ask of developers.
This from KI0QM
"For everyone saying we should be in PRB1 I think there is no comparison. You can't compare a 40' tower with an all-band log and some 6m, 2m, 440 antennas to a small dish. (Yes I know you can actually put up a big TV antenna under PRB-1, but no significant numbers of people do that anymore.) PRB-1 is all about the small dish antennas and our stuff is much bigger and for almost everyone, much more "intrusive".
You agreed to them, you signed to them. Why now are you complaining about them. This is like folks that move in next to an airport and then complain about the loud noises. "
The problem is that in a tight job market with high fuel costs, bad school areas, blighted neighborhoods, and other impediments to purchasing a non-restricted home near employment preclude avoiding antenna prohibitions.
I have never purchased a home in a community with severe restrictions against antennas. This has limited my home purchases to older homes or new homes on sufficiently large lots in rural areas. There has been a high premium on internet connectivity (poor quality dialup or satellite only) long commutes to work, school and health care.
One house that I am trying to sell. I had to move for work. (lack thereof). Is on a non-restricted lot inside the city limits of a larger city. It is now surrounded by restricted communities on all sides. I didn't have the chance to install a tower there, but suspect that doing so would cause problems. The developers complained about the travel trailer stored behind the house for vacation and work trips. It was legal, but they were rather insistant that it must go.
PRB1 override of CC&Rs is necessary because it has become too difficult to reasonably avoid them and PRB1 is all about reasonable accomodation of antennas and support structures, not just TV antennas and satellite dishes. The satellite dish and TV antenna ruling is for Off The Air Reception Devices, applies only to broadcast television and radio and is normal referred to as OTARD.
KF7CG
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by WA2JJH on January 5, 2007
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code waivers and Hoa's. Carefull who you call a hoa :)
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KE4ZHN on January 5, 2007
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Now that the league is suing the FCC, just how much influence do you think they will have left with the FCC? Their biting the hand that feeds us and win or lose Im quite sure the folks at the FCC who have to deal with the case will not soon forget the aggravation the league will put them through. If your best friend sued you, would they still be your best friend after all the smoke cleared? Now Don wants the league to jump on the PRB1 bandwagon and further harrass the FCC while suing them at the same time. This should make the FCC real happy with us. If you crap in your own mess kit your not very bright are you?
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KD4GT on January 5, 2007
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Following is part of an email I sent to the ARRL on 12/26/2006. Maybe they'll print it - and maybe they won't but ... For y'all's reading (dis)pleasure:
-=-=-=-=-
The regulation I want to address is actually more at the local government level. It comes from the local government actually shirking their duties. The issue is that municipal and county governments want their cake for free and eat it too. Across the entire United States, new land developments – subdivisions – are actually mandated to be HOA’s – Home Owner Associations. No longer can a developer lay out streets, run water and sewer lines, pour sidewalks and build houses and then turn these over to the local government. Even though the residents of these new developments are taxed like the prior existing residential areas, these new developments are often left to maintain their own infrastructure including roads, sidewalks and, sometimes, even water and sewer systems.
Along with that comes the CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions) for the new community. Over the years, boilerplate documents have come into existence for customization by the individual developer. Essentially every one of these prohibits any sort of antenna structure. Some have gone so far as to stipulate “a flag pole may not be used for any other purpose.” Yes, hams in many locations learned how to install trapped verticals inside flagpoles. Commercial interests have employed fancy lobbyists and expensive lawyers and managed to make installation of satellite dishes for ‘cable’ TV exempt from these CC&Rs.
Almost anyone purchasing a house today will end up being required to sign into the CC&Rs. As active hams retire from their day job, many move to retirement communities and are faced with giving up ham radio completely. Even new hams raising families are often caught up in the CC&R dilema. I recall helping one new ham with an antenna on his back deck railing. He was concerned the entire time that his next-door neighbor, a member of the board in the HOA, would happen to see over the fence and turn him in for violating “the rules”. Another I knew, in complete defiance of many write-ups for infractions to “the rules” for wire or ham-sticks, set up his rig on a table in his driveway, hooked jumper cables from the tuner to the bumpers of his two cars and proceeded to work as many stations as possible.
As a collective group, we need to implore our federal representatives in Washington, DC to implement PRB-1 on a national level. The national groups representing the many HOAs have lobbyists that will oppose this. We must do better. Massive email, fax and letter campaigns at critical times can get it through but we must act together as a unified voice. Getting PRB-1 extended to HOA CC&R contracts is vital to the health and survival of amateur radio. Even if we beat the BPL issue, if we can’t put up an antenna, it really won’t matter. And amateur radio will die.
KD4GT, Cliff Segar
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W7ETA on January 5, 2007
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I didn't see anything about what the HFA wanted the ARRL to do.
I did find the HFA petetion to the FCC. Looks very well written--can't imagine why what was sent to eHam is written poorly.
<Instead of covering all licensed Amateur Radio operators, we propose to limit antenna ban overrides solely to those hams who are also trained and skilled emergency communicators. We propose to call these hams Emergency Communications Operators, with “EmComm Operators” or ECOs as the shorthand term.
We envision specific eligibility criteria which must be met -- and maintained through periodic self-certifications.>
Just what do the HFA members want the ARRL to do?
Maybe we have to listen to the unlicensed AM BC stations they support to find out?
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by WB6MMJ on January 5, 2007
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Sometimes, as far as I`m concerned, most of the time, The ARRL seems to pick their own issues which don`t seem to represent it`s member's. Remember, I said "it`s members". Not the over all ham community. You have to be a paying member to count in their eyes. If you arn`t a paying "$$$$$$" member, you count for nothing. I refuse to join a organization that has for many years kept selling Ham Radio`s sole to get members. CB and Ham Radio will be the same in time thanks to the actions of the ARRL. They are really wasting money on this one.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by N6HCM on January 5, 2007
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Working toward a more favorable resolution for those subject to deed restrictions seems to be a more fruitful use of ARRL resources than the "Hello!" campaign ...
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W7ETA on January 5, 2007
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Well.
That certainly clears up what the HFA wants the ARRL to do.
:-O
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KC2WI on January 5, 2007
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HOAs/CC&R's don’t really have much effect on me personally because I have no intention of living in a suburban area where these restrictions apply. However, in the future I may eventually have to a “senior living” community where it will be a problem.
The bigger problem as I see it is as other posters have mentioned - in many cases there is no practical alternative. Unless ham radio is your life, other practical, financial, and family concerns will narrow your choices. If you are a responsible and considerate spouse/parent/whatever, you can not let your amateur radio hobby cause you to make unwise sacrifices at the expense of your family and so on.
Therefore, in a real practical sense, these restrictive covenants and regulations cause people to either drop out of ham radio, not get interested in the first place, or at least remain stuck in the HT-through-the-repeater mode. HF antennas take some trouble to set up even if you have no regulatory restrictions. We don’t need more disincentives to upgrade.
For the good of amateur radio as a whole, all hams should get behind the effort to ease antenna restrictions in HOAs and it should be a priority with the ARRL. But we also have to make our requests reasonable. You’re not going to get anyone to agree to exemptions for 60’ towers and tri-band beams on small residential lots. But that’s different than allowing a small vertical in the yard, a small VHF/UHF vertical on the roof, a loaded HF whip on a porch railing, or a wire dipole in the trees on your own property.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KG6QKJ on January 5, 2007
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It is not that easy to move to an UN-restricted location.
Here in California every housing tract that was built from about 1980 to the present has CC&R's. There is NO way around it.
To move in California to an unrestricted area would keep you in all the worst neighborhoods with high bills to remodel or to just keep an older home livable.
For the people that said, "just move" obviously don't have a wife that is breathing down their back to move to an adult community or a gated community.
Marty
KG6QKJ
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by NS6Y_ on January 6, 2007
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http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5883357
Climb your tower!
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KD4AC on January 6, 2007
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"That is what U-Hauls are made for. I don't think anyone is forced into a residence unless they are incarcerated."
Another mis-informed person. Perhaps you'd like to help me pay for a house an hour outside the city so I can enjoy amateur radio. And then maybe you'd like to help me pay for the gas for the commute as well. You obviously live in an area where deed restrictions haven't taken over yet. But try moving to Florida or several other locations and see what happens.
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by K1CJS on January 6, 2007
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It used to be before you bought a house you asked about restrictions on record (on the deed) so you would know before you signed. Now, it seems that people don't do that, they sign on the line then find out about those restrictions. Yes, I know, in some areas there is no buying a house without those restrictions, but not in all areas.
We have given away too many of our freedoms, now we're complaining about it. Now, we can't buy a home and do what we want to do on our own property without the neighbors complaining and sueing us over some of those things. But let us ask those same neighbors to stop doing something that is obviously obnoxious and detrimental and we're told to mind our own business.
For those that don't realize it, it is the same 'gimme' attitude that some of us are complaining about with the dropping of element 1 testing. That attitude is pervading our society. As long as we each can get what we want, the heck with others. Gone is the day where the neighbors would come over and help us with a project. Now if we need to get something done, we have to hire contractors--our friends and neighbors don't have the time or the desire to help. It used to be an apology would suffice if someone got hurt--now people look to see if they can sue and get money out of it.
The author is concerned about getting around the HOA issues for the citing of antenna structures. I submit that until our society gets the 'me first' and the 'how much can I get' attitudes out of their minds, this issue will be impossible to fight and win. Complaining about it and trying to get a group together to fight it will not work. Look at the same group you are railing against because they don't have this issue on their agenda--the ARRL. Are they effectively fighting (never mind winning) the battle over BPL pollution? No, and they're not likely to either--just as 'Hams for action' will have little to no effect no HOAs.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by KD5VHF on January 6, 2007
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KD4AC Wrote"Another mis-informed person. Perhaps you'd like to help me pay for a house an hour outside the city so I can enjoy amateur radio. And then maybe you'd like to help me pay for the gas for the commute as well. You obviously live in an area where deed restrictions haven't taken over yet. But try moving to Florida or several other locations and see what happens." Well KD4AC, I'm NOT mis-informed.I don't live an hour from town. Just 13 miles/ 10 minutes. Takes less than a gallon of gas to drive into town and back home. 4.5 gallons per week. How much gas do you use in a week? I paid 30K for my 16 acres with all utilities. I don't think that is much more than a tiny little lot is going for in most of the prison type neighborhoods. No deed restrictions? You bet. That is the first thing I checked on. I chose to stay away from the restricted neighborhoods. I chose to stay away from neighborhoods period. It's a choice.
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HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by WA1RNE on January 7, 2007
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This guy writes one of these articles every 6 months. the last one was July 28, 2006.
An excerpt from their FCC petition straight from their web site:
A. Proposed “Fixed Requirements” To Address Aesthetic Concerns
As one “fixed requirement”, the Petition proposes that conditions for an ECO self-certification ** must include painting of the ham’s exterior antenna. **
The ECO must certify that all owned or used exterior antennas, and equipment, have been painted a color which matches, at least approximately, the immediate surroundings.
As a fixed requirement for re-certification, the Petition proposes a “3-Year Rule”.
HFA’s 3-Year Rule requires that every ECO, at 3-year intervals after the initial certification (Years 3, 6, etc.), must certify to the FCC that he or she has physically inspected the exterior antenna within 60 days of the anniversary date, or more frequently if needed. The ECO must also certify that, based on the inspection(s), he or she has re-painted and/or repaired and/or otherwise maintained the equipment, if needed.
>>>> OK folks, get those paint brushes ready!!
How many senior citizens within the ham population- and that's a big group - are going to shell out the dough to hire an army of painters to remove their antennas and paint them camo colors?
How many of you intend to paint your 6BTV camo green every 3 years?/
Give me a break, the Feds must be rolling in the isles....
WA1RNE
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ARRL Board Meeting... just a pasifier for members
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by QRZDXR on January 8, 2007
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Missed again.
the ARRL sure talks a mean talk, walks a mean walk but clearly misses the boat and drowns in the process.
Hopefully the word about them won't be heard out here. (lots of excited people) The locals asked for help and got--NOTHING-- when the city wanted to re-do its ordances for antennas. It was a bloody mess when all was done. Local hams kept hopeing for the white knight from the ARRL to jump in and help 'em. Very disapointed at the fact they never came to the point that bad things were being said about the Jerks back at HQ. (gee I can't imagin why)
And now for act two....
What makes them think that after the last Federal act was challenged and defeated out in CA that they will get any further this time ?
I guess they live in the ivory castle where reality doesn't exist. Out here the City controls what is going up or down not the FEDS. Somewhere the ARRL is going into self denyal thinking that the FEDS will make it right... wrong.
CC&R's take presidents over land use in States, county and cities. Not the FEDS. Antennas, towers are structures and as such fall under the UBC, city safety and city ordances for building (includes antennas, stuctures and towers). Guess the ARRL hasn't figured that out yet.
So this is just one more way they THINK they (ARRL) are going to help ya!... only problem-- it won't and its a waist of time and resouces. (hard earned cash of the member who support the ARRLs' white castle group)
But, hey it sells and members get to voice a opinion. For what ever that is worth.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by QRZDXR on January 8, 2007
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Hey... if its good for the ARRL--- its good for you
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by K4RAF on January 8, 2007
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Unless the ARRL can magically change basic contract law, there is not a damn thing you can do after the fact you sign a contract/agreement/bond...
If it ain't there BEFORE you sign, your closing attorney & you are the only ones to blame. There will never be a Federal mechanism for "reasonable accomodation" simply because there is no minimal "standard" footprint, unlike the BINDING FCC OTARD.
Shellgame the author knows this but then again, he is how far from DC, by his own profile? Perhaps he is the Jim Baker of HOA "reformers"...
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by K4RAF on January 8, 2007
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Unless the ARRL can magically change basic contract law, there is not a damn thing you can do after the fact you sign a contract/agreement/bond...
If it ain't there BEFORE you sign, your closing attorney & you are the only ones to blame. There will never be a Federal mechanism for "reasonable accomodation" simply because there is no minimal "standard" footprint, unlike the BINDING FCC OTARD.
Shellgame the author knows this but then again, he is how far from DC, by his own profile? Perhaps he is the Jim Baker of HOA "reformers"...
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W9WHE-II on January 8, 2007
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Trying to get arrl to respond to any ideas that did not originate in Newington is a total waste of time.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by K1CJS on January 8, 2007
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The people at the ARRL read these articles on this and other sites sometimes. Just say you're bashing the ARRL and it is seen by those staffers, then they see a request coming in afterwards with the same callsign on it. You actually think they're going to not remember seeing that bashing post? Who do you thing will get the most help, someone who supports the League or someone who is continually complaining about anything to do with them.
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction--even these articles and posts.
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by AE6RO on January 8, 2007
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I'd just like to add that HOA's aren't shy about foreclosure. If you break a rule and get caught, they will foreclose. That means they legally take your property away from you, even if you are paid up.
That goes for dual purpose flagpoles, too. Try explaining that to the XYL. 73, AE6RO
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W9WHE-II on January 11, 2007
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K1CJS writes:
"Who do you thing will get the most help, someone who supports the League or someone who is continually complaining about anything to do with them".
The reality is that arrl's so-called "help" with legislators is not all that meaningful.
http://www.eham.net/survey/720
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RE: HFA Spotlights ARRL Board Meeting
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by W1RFI on January 12, 2007
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> Do I sense some dissention within the ranks?
> Bringing a battle by show of force in a public forum
> is not something the ARRL tends to embrace.
> Arrrghhh, mutiny is not what a ship's captain
> normally responds well to. You would do well not to
> publicize your disagreement quite so visibly.
I am not sure I agree. I read the original post, and thought it was reasonably stated, and asking ARRL members to communicate their own views to their ARRL Division Director. The only disagreement I have with the advice offered is that hams should communicate with their OWN Director, not send em | | | |
