Action item - Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act

[Linnea]

To all radio amateurs and Pirates of the Fantastic [unlicensed can also send similar letters to congress]. Your support is needed and appreciated.

From ARRL Newsletter:

US SENATE VERSION OF AMATEUR RADIO SPECTRUM PROTECTION ACT OF 2005
INTRODUCED

A US Senate version of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005
has been introduced in the 109th Congress with bipartisan support. Sen
Michael Crapo of Idaho sponsored the measure, S 1236, on June 14. The
wording of the bill is identical to the House version, HR 691,
introduced earlier this year by Rep Michael Bilirakis of Florida.
Joining Crapo as cosponsors of the Senate bill were Senators Christopher
Bond of Missouri, Max Baucus and Conrad Burns of Montana, and Daniel
Akaka of Hawaii. The bill has been referred to the US Senate Commerce,
Science and Transportation Committee of which Burns is a member. ARRL
CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the League is pleased that Crapo has agreed
to once again sponsor this legislation at ARRL's urging.

"We are grateful for Sen Crapo's demonstration of support by introducing
the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005," Sumner said. "His
sponsorship of this bill shows his appreciation for the value and
utility of Amateur Radio to the US public, especially in times of
emergency."

Like previous versions of the proposal, the House and Senate measures
would require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to
the Amateur Radio and Amateur-Satellite services in the event of
reallocation to other services of primary amateur spectrum or the
diminution of secondary amateur spectrum. The bill also would cover
additional allocations within Amateur Radio bands that "would
substantially reduce" their utility to Amateur Service licensees.

In a letter this week, ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, also thanked
Crapo for his continued support of the Spectrum Protection Act. "As you
know, this legislation is vital for ensuring that the Amateur Radio
Service, the only 100 percent fail-safe emergency communication
capability, remains a viable public safety option," Haynie said, adding
that the League also appreciates the work of Crapo's staff in getting
the bill into play in the new Congress. "The ARRL looks forward to
working with you on successfully passing this legislation during the
109th Congress," he said.

The legislation references Amateur Radio's role in providing "voluntary,
noncommercial radio service, particularly emergency communications," and
it points out that hams have "consistently and reliably" provided
communication support in the event of emergencies and disasters
including tornadoes and hurricanes, chemical spills, forest fires and
rail accidents. As the measure notes, FCC actions already have led to
the loss of at least 107 MHz of spectrum to radio amateurs.

Efforts will continue--now in both chambers of Congress--to attract
additional cosponsors for S 1236 and HR 691. The League encourages its
members to urge their congressional representatives and senators to sign
aboard. A sample letter for HR 691
<http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr-691 ... etter.html> and a
sample letter for S 1236
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/s-1236/>--are available on the
ARRL Web site for members to use as guides in writing their members of
Congress to seek their support.

To expedite delivery, send all correspondence bound for Members of
Congress--preferably as an attachment--to [email protected]
or fax it to 703-684-7594. The ARRL will bundle correspondence addressed
to each Member of Congress for hand delivery.

Thanks!

[Fred_Vobbe]

A letter will go out shortly.

And for those of you that listen via AM radio, don't forget that you have until July 17th to voice your opposition to the digital transmissions in the AM band that cause interference and a degradation to station's coverage.


Letter sent at 10:40AM...
http://www.vobbe.net/articles/lttr-Oxley06232005.pdf