ARLA/CLUSTER: Nova legislação favoravel ao radioamadorismo passa no parlamento americano sem objecções, instalação de antenas está assegurada

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

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

'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."

The "Rally Congress" web page can be found at,
https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-senate-to-support-amateur-radio-parity-act

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.

Source: The American Radio Relay League <http://www.arrl.org/>
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