Spectrum Protection Act Cosponsor List Tops 100:

The number of US House members from both sides of the aisle signed on as cosponsors of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003--HR 713--has topped the century mark. The recent addition of three Republicans and three Democrats pushed the count to 103. Identical House and Senate versions of the measure, an ARRL initiative, are on their third try in Congress. Since January 1, the number of HR 713 cosponsors has grown by 26. The Senate version, S 537, has eight cosponsors.

The Spectrum Protection Act bills would require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio if the Commission were to reallocate primary amateur frequencies, reduce any secondary amateur allocations, or make additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs.

Signing aboard HR 713 so far this month were representatives Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), C. A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (D-MD), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA). Florida Republican Michael Bilirakis sponsored the House bill, while Idaho Republican Michael Crapo introduced S 537.

Ruppersberger this month also became the 35th cosponsor of HR 1478, the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2003--the so-called CC&R bill. Sponsored by New York Democrat Steve Israel, the CC&R bill would require private land-use regulators such as homeowners' associations to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio antennas consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal preemption.

HR 713 and HR 1478 have been referred to the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. S 537 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, reiterated that the key to passage of the measures is letters from constituents. He called upon League members to take the effort to write, call or e-mail their representatives and senators to explain the bills' importance and encourage them to consider cosponsoring the measures. "Letters from ARRL members--who also are voters--are crucial to getting the spectrum bills through Congress, and that won't happen without support from our members," he said.

Sample letters and additional information--including the bills' texts and information on how to write members of Congress--is on the ARRL's "The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003" Web page http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html and on the "HR 1478, The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2003" Web page http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr1478/.

Those writing their lawmakers on behalf of the Spectrum Protection Act are asked to copy their correspondence to the League via e-mail specbill03@arrl.org;. Those writing on behalf of the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act, HR 1478, are asked to copy their correspondence to ccr-bill@arrl.org;.

Source:

The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 21 May 21, 2004

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