SB QST @ ARL $ARLB015   
   ARLB015 House Bill Would Require FCC to Extend PRB-1 Coverage to   
   Restrictive Covenants   
      
   ZCZC AG15   
   QST de W1AW   
   ARRL Bulletin 15  ARLB015   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington CT  June 28, 2014   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB015   
   ARLB015 House Bill Would Require FCC to Extend PRB-1 Coverage to   
   Restrictive Covenants   
      
   A bill with bipartisan support has been introduced in the US House   
   of Representatives that calls on the FCC to apply the "reasonable   
   accommodation" three-part test of the PRB-1 federal pre-emption   
   policy to private land-use restrictions. HR.4969, the "Amateur Radio   
   Parity Act of 2014" was introduced on June 25 at the request of the   
   ARRL, which worked with House staffers to draft the proposed   
   legislation. The bill's sponsor is Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). It has   
   initial co-sponsorship from Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT). If the measure   
   passes the 113th Congress, it would require the FCC, within 120 days   
   of the Bill's passage, to amend the Part 97 Amateur Service rules to   
   apply PRB-1 coverage to include homeowners' association regulations   
   and deed restrictions, often referred to as "covenants, conditions,   
   and restrictions" (CC&Rs). Presently, PRB-1 only applies to state   
   and local zoning laws and ordinances.   
      
   "There is a strong federal interest in the effective performance of   
   Amateur Radio stations established at the residences of licensees,"   
   the bill states. "Such stations have been shown to be frequently and   
   increasingly precluded by unreasonable private land-use   
   restrictions, including restrictive covenants."   
      
   The 11-page PRB-1 FCC Memorandum Opinion and Order is codified at   
   Part 97.15(b) in the FCC Amateur Service rules, giving the   
   regulation the same effect as a federal statute. In short, PRB-1   
   states that local governments cannot preclude Amateur Radio   
   communications; they must "reasonably accommodate" amateur   
   operations, and the state and local regulations must be the minimum   
   practicable regulation to accomplish a legitimate governmental   
   interest. Subject to those guidelines, municipalities may still   
   establish regulations with respect to height, safety, and aesthetic   
   concerns.   
      
   For 28 years, FCC regulations have "prohibited the application to   
   Amateur Radio stations of state and local regulations that preclude   
   or fail to reasonably accommodate Amateur Service communications,"   
   the bill points out, "or that do not constitute the minimum   
   practicable regulation to accomplish a legitimate state or local   
   purpose." Since PRB-1 was enacted, the FCC has said several times   
   that it would prefer to have some guidance from Congress before   
   extending the policy to private land-use regulations.   
      
   HR.4969 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce   
   Committee. Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), chairs that panel's   
   Communications and Technology Subcommittee, which will consider the   
   measure.   
      
   ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, is a principal   
   advocate for the current legislative initiative to gain PRB-1   
   recognition for CC&Rs. Lisenco said the most urgent task now is to   
   get additional co-sponsors to sign onto HR.4969.   
   NNNN   
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   One of the great tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a   
   gang of brutal facts. --Benjamin Franklin   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
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