 West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise signs the Amateur Radio antenna bill, HB 4335. With him is House of Delegates Member Sharon Spencer, KC8KVF, who sponsored the bill and serves as West Virginia's ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator. [Dave Ellis, WA8WV, Photo] |
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 11, 2002--West Virginia has become the 15th state to adopt an Amateur Radio antenna bill that's based on the limited federal preemption known as PRB-1. Gov Bob Wise--the son of an amateur--signed House Bill 4335 into law March 7. The West Virginia Legislature had okayed the measure February 26, less than 30 days after it was introduced.
West Virginia ARRL Section Manager Hal Turley, KC8FS, said several hams from the Charleston area were on hand for the signing. Gov Wise--whose late father was WA8AYP--also proclaimed March 7 as "Amateur Radio Operators Appreciation Day." The proclamation takes note of Amateur Radio's contributions to public service and disaster communication, including the response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. It specifically mentions the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and SKYWARN.
The West Virginia measure incorporates
language very similar to that of PRB-1 into two articles of the Code of West
Virginia. Under the bill, any county or municipal ordinance or order concerning
the regulation or placement of Amateur Radio antennas would have to comply with
all FCC regulations, rulings and orders; "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio
communications; and represent "the minimum practicable regulation."
 Gov Wise (center) presents the Amateur Radio Operators Appreciation Day proclamation to Del Sharon Spencer (right) and West Virginia ARRL Section Manager Hal Turley, KC8FS. [Garie Halstead, K8KFJ, Photo] |
West Virginia's bill would not prevent a county commission or municipality from taking action to protect or preserve historic buildings, structures, sites and districts established by federal, state or local law.
Turley credited "the tireless efforts" of Kanawha County House of Delegates member Sharon Spencer, KC8KVF--an ARRL member from Charleston--for helping to get the bill through the legislature as well as for her "dedication and commitment" to Amateur Radio. He said that amateurs from all corners of The Mountain State actively participated in promoting the bill's passage and by contacting their elected representatives. "And I am certain there are many legislators in our state who now know a lot more about Amateur Radio than they did a month ago," he said.
An Amateur Radio antenna bill was signed into law March 5 in New Mexico. Another measure awaits the governor's signature in Wisconsin, a PRB-1 bill recently was introduced in Tennessee and similar measures have been proposed for introduction in other states.
More information on antenna regulation is
available on the ARRL Antenna Restrictions Web page.
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