SB QST @ ARL $ARLB007   
   ARLB007 FCC Seeks Public Comments on Emergency Communications by   
   Amateur Radio and Impediments to Amateur Radio Communications   
      
   ZCZC AG07   
   QST de W1AW     
   ARRL Bulletin 7  ARLB007   
   From ARRL Headquarters     
   Newington CT  April 5, 2012   
   To all radio amateurs    
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB007   
   ARLB007 FCC Seeks Public Comments on Emergency Communications by   
   Amateur Radio and Impediments to Amateur Radio Communications   
      
   In response to the Congressional directive to prepare a study to   
   assess Amateur Radio's role in emergency and disaster communications   
   and the impact of private land use regulations on the amateur   
   community's ability to provide such communications, the FCC issued   
   DA 12-523 soliciting comments from the public. The period for public   
   comment runs until May 17, 2012.   
      
   "As part of the study contained in Public Law No. 112-96, the   
   Commission has opened a 45 day period for comments to be filed on   
   the issue," said ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson,   
   N1ND. "Because of the short deadline for the study to be completed   
   and presented to Congress -- before the end of August -- the ARRL   
   and the amateur community must quickly mobilize their response."   
      
   The FCC Public Notice focuses on two specific areas for comments.   
   The first is the role that Amateur Radio has played and continues to   
   play to support emergency and disaster relief organizations, such as   
   FEMA and local/state emergency management agencies. The second is to   
   determine impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio communications. This   
   would include the impact that private land-use regulations -- such   
   as deed restrictions and homeowner association covenants -- have on   
   the ability of licensed amateurs to fully participate in providing   
   support communications to the served agencies.   
      
   "This study is not about zoning ordinances or regulations adopted by   
   the local or state governments," Henderson explained. "Amateurs   
   already have the limited protection of PRB-1 to assist them with   
   those situations. The areas of concern here are the limitations that   
   are placed on a property when it is purchased, either as part of the   
   deed of sale or by restrictions imposed by the   
   neighborhood/homeowner's association. Those restrictions --   
   sometimes referred to as CC&Rs -- are not currently covered by the   
   FCC's PRB-1 decision from 1985."   
      
   To allow the ARRL to quickly collect and collate relevant   
   information from the amateur community to help support the filing it   
   will make with the FCC on this issue, a website has been setup. The   
   site -- www.arrl.org/ccr-study-information -- provides details about   
   what kind of information is needed by the ARRL.   
      
   Also on the site, you will find links to two online data collection   
   forms. The first form allows you to provide information about   
   specific emergency communications in which Amateur Radio has played   
   a role since January 2000. The second form asks for specific   
   information on the CC&Rs/deed restrictions that control your   
   property. It also asks you to provide information on how those   
   restrictions have impacted your ability to fully support emergency   
   communications.   
      
   "Whether you are an ARRL member or not, your information and   
   situation are important to helping us make the case for all   
   amateurs," Henderson said. "Whether your support communications are   
   with ARES, RACES, SKYWARN, CERT or other emergency and disaster   
   groups, your voice should be heard. If you cannot operate   
   effectively from home during an emergency because CC&Rs prohibit   
   adequate antennas on your property, that is important to document   
   and quantify. This issue affects all of Amateur Radio, not just ARRL   
   members."   
      
   Henderson said that due to the short timeframe that the FCC has   
   allotted for public comment, time is of the essence. In order to   
   allow the ARRL to develop its comments, the ARRL asks that all   
   information sent by the amateur community be received at the ARRL no   
   later than April 25, 2012: "We realize this is a very short   
   turnaround asking for your response, but this is based on the time   
   provided by the Commission for the comment window."   
      
   It is important that when you provide specifics of your CC&R, you   
   also provide the ARRL with a copy of its actual wording. If you have   
   the CC&R in a digital format (or you can scan the document into a   
   file), it can either be uploaded through the website above or it can   
   be sent via an e-mail to CCRinfo@arrl.org . If you do not have an   
   electronic format, a hard copy may be sent via US mail to: CCR Study   
   Information, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.   
      
   "We need factual, specific details," Henderson said. "The more   
   accurate information we have -- including copies of the CC&R   
   language -- the stronger case we can make. Having copies of the   
   exact CC&Rs is important. It allows us to demonstrate the wide   
   variation of restrictions. Including the specific text is as   
   important as any other piece of information you provide."   
      
   If you have questions about what is being requested, you may contact   
   the ARRL Regulatory Information Office via e-mail at   
   reginfo@arrl.org. "Again, time is of the essence in this matter,"   
   Henderson said. "This is the best opportunity that amateurs have had   
   to address the impact of overly burdensome private land use   
   restrictions. If Amateur Radio is to succeed in this effort, it is   
   going to take all of us working together."   
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
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