SB QST @ ARL $ARLB033   
   ARLB033 Amateur Radio Parity Act Passes Senate Committee, Gains Cosponsors   
      
   ZCZC AG33   
   QST de W1AW   
   ARRL Bulletin 33  ARLB033   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington CT  November 19, 2015   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB033   
   ARLB033 Amateur Radio Parity Act Passes Senate Committee, Gains Cosponsors   
      
   The Amateur Radio Parity Act S. 1685 has been endorsed by the US Senate   
   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In the voice vote on   
   November 18, two Senators - Bill Nelson (D-FL) and   
   Brian Schatz (D-HI) - asked to be recorded as voting "no." The Committee held   
   an executive session to consider the various legislative measures and   
   nominations.   
      
   "Our work is not finished on the Senate side of Capitol Hill, although this is   
   a huge step forward," said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN.  She urged ARRL   
   members to continue to write, call and e-mail their Senators about S. 1685 to   
   build up its support for the future. "We know that members' response to the   
   call for a communications blast last week made all the difference for some   
   Senators on the committee."   
      
   S. 1685 picked up another Senate cosponsor on November 18, when Sen Jerry   
   Moran (R-KS), who sits on the Commerce Committee, has signed aboard the bill.   
   "ARRL members in Kansas should contact his office to say thanks," President   
   Craigie said. "Having an additional cosponsor who's on the Committee is   
   especially good news."   
      
   On hand to observe the Committee mark-up session were ARRL Hudson Division   
   Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, and ARRL General   
   Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD.   
      
   President Craigie encouraged ARRL members in Florida and Hawaii to keep   
   contacting Senators Schatz and Nelson, urging them to change their minds about   
   the legislation. "Don't be harsh or angry," she advised. "Keep it factual and   
   courteous, and don't give up."   
      
   On November 5, US Sen Al Franken (D-MN) signed on as the second cosponsor of   
   S. 1685. That legislation and its US House twin, H.R. 1301, call on the FCC to   
   extend the limited federal pre-emption of PRB-1 to cover private land-use   
   restrictions such as deed covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). If   
   the legislation becomes law, radio amateurs living in antenna-restricted   
   communities would have the opportunity to negotiate with homeowners   
   associations to install an antenna that reasonably accommodates Amateur Radio   
   communication.   
      
   H.R. 1301 has 114 cosponsors as of November 18. President Craigie said ARRL   
   members should continue to urge their Representatives to cosponsor H.R. 1301   
   and to thank those who already have signed on.   
      
   The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 page on the ARRL website has more   
   information on how you can become involved.  The Amateur Radio Parity Act of   
   2015 can be found on the web at, http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act .   
      
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   "So let me ask you a question about this brave new world of yours. When you've   
   killed all the bad guys, and when it's all perfect, and just and fair, and   
   when you have finally got it exactly the way you want it, what are you going   
   to do with the people like you? The trouble makers. How are you going to   
   protect your glorious revolution from the next one?"   
   - The twelfth Doctor   
      
   ... We should eliminate doubt, I think.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)