SB QST @ ARL $ARLB014   
   ARLB014 Senate "Companion" Bill to HR 607 Avoids Impacting Amateur   
   Spectrum   
      
   ZCZC AG14   
   QST de W1AW     
   ARRL Bulletin 14  ARLB014   
   From ARRL Headquarters     
   Newington CT  May 25, 2011   
   To all radio amateurs    
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB014   
   ARLB014 Senate "Companion" Bill to HR 607 Avoids Impacting Amateur   
   Spectrum   
       
   On Thursday, May 19, Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and John McCain   
   (R-AZ) introduced S 1040 -- The Broadband for First Responders Act   
   of 2011 -- in the Senate.  While it has a similar objective to HR   
   607 -- introduced in February by Representative Peter King (R-NY-3)   
   -- this Senate bill, unlike HR 607, does not call for auctioning any   
   portions of Amateur Radio spectrum. Both bills call for the   
   allocation of the so-called "D block" of spectrum, 758-763 and   
   788-793 MHz, to facilitate the development of a public safety   
   broadband network.   
      
   On learning in February that a Senate version of HR 607 was being   
   drafted, ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, met with   
   staff members of the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental   
   Affairs Committee who were working on the bill to share the ARRL's   
   concerns with regard to HR 607. "They seemed very receptive to our   
   argument and appreciative of the public service contributions of   
   radio amateurs," Sumner said. "It is gratifying to see that S 1040   
   avoids impacting our spectrum allocations."   
      
   Sumner explained that while some media reports are referring to S   
   1040 as "the Senate version of HR 607," it is important that radio   
   amateurs not oppose S 1040: "There is no reason for us to do so. We   
   support the creation of an interoperable broadband network for first   
   responders. Other than to oppose any method that would impact   
   amateur spectrum use, we do not support one method over another of   
   achieving that objective. We only oppose one aspect of HR 607, not   
   the entire bill."   
      
   S 1040 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Science,   
   Commerce, and Transportation, chaired by Senator Jay Rockefeller   
   (D-WV). Senator Rockefeller earlier introduced his own bill, S 28,   
   to address the same general topic. Neither Senate bill would impact   
   amateur spectrum.   
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   Gentlemens' agreements ratified by IARU regions 1 and 2 have   
   designated a global "center of activity" frequency  in  each   
   of  the  international  hf  bands.  THese are similar to the   
   concept for weak signal calling and other center of activity   
   frequencies.  Three of these have been ratified worldwide.   
      
   THese  center of activity frequencies are where stations can   
   go to render or obtain emergency assistance.   
      
   WHen casually operating or  contesting  on  hf  please  make   
   yourself  aware  of  these  frequencies,  and give them some   
   space. Remember that often stations with emergency needs are   
   not  those  utilizing  high  gain antennas and maximum legal   
   power.   
      
   TO find out more, visit 14300.net or IARU web resources.   
      
      
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    * Origin: RRN BBS: Your fidonet ham radio connection! (1:116/901)