NEWINGTON, CT, May 1, 2001-Alaska Gov Tony Knowles has signed that state's Amateur Radio antenna bill into law. Alaska Senate Bill 78, An Act Relating to Municipal Regulation of Radio Antennas, was signed April 27. It will become effective July 26. Alaska becomes the 12th state to adopt such legislation.
The bill was approved by unanimous votes in the Alaska House of Representatives and Senate. The measure goes beyond incorporating language from the limited federal preemption known as PRB-1 into Alaska's state statutes. It includes a schedule of antenna structure heights, below which municipalities could not further regulate. It also contains a "grandfather" provision to protect existing towers should a municipality enact a restrictive antenna ordinance.
The new law will require localities in Alaska to "reasonably accommodate Amateur Radio antennas" and impose "only the minimum requirements" necessary, although they can require "reasonable and customary engineering practices" be followed.
 "We were happy to see the bill approved unanimously!" said Joe Hannigan, WL7M, who owns these "frozen" antennas in Fritz Creek, Alaska. He says that after things warm up a bit, the antennas come back into tune and are usable. "An alternate method is to go out to the tower, give it a shake, then run like crazy before the ice falls on your head!" he said, but adds that's "kinda hard to do in snowshoes!" [WL7M Photo] |
The measure also will establish a three-tier minimum regulatory height schedule that depends on the population density of the community in which the antenna is installed and the size of the lot on which it is sited. Municipalities would not be permitted to further regulate antennas shorter than 75 feet in areas with a population density of more than 120 people per square mile. A minimum regulatory height of 140 feet would prevail in areas with a population density of more than 120 people per square mile for a lot size of an acre or larger. The top-tier 200 feet minimum regulatory limit would apply in areas where the population density is 120 people or less per square mile.
Alaska Section Manager Kent Petty, KL5T, said many of the state's hams deserve credit for helping to obtain passage of the important legislation. "Of special note is Dan Squires, KD7WN, of Juneau," Petty said. "Dan was on the front line and visited our legislature frequently over the past months providing both written and verbal support for the bill.
Petty also cited ARRL Northwest Division Director Greg Milnes, W7OZ, as "a great help" to the effort. "I should not fail to mention the invaluable assistance provided by the ARRL and the volunteer counsel," he said. "Without these folks' help as well as all the support provided by the many amateurs throughout the section, this bill never would have gotten off the ground." Petty said the letters, e-mails, and telephone calls and legislative testimony "really paid off" and suggested that Alaska amateurs write their representatives, senators and governor to thank them for their "unwavering and unanimous support."
A copy of the Alaska legislation is available as a PDF file on the Alaska legislature's Web site.
For more information on PRB-1 and Amateur Radio antenna regulation, visit ARRLWeb.
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