Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act to Get Public Airing

NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 30, 2003--The chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet has agreed to hear testimony on the House version of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003, HR 713, at a public hearing later this spring. Rep Fred Upton (R-MI) has assured the bill's sponsor, Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), that the hearing--which will be convened to address public safety spectrum needs--will include an opportunity for a member of the Amateur Radio community to appear before the panel. Upton also told Bilirakis that he shares his interest in protecting Amateur Radio.

"That indeed is good news!" said ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP. "A hearing is exactly what we'd like to have in order to state our case, and I think we can state a good case, too." The date of the hearing has not been set, and it's not yet known who will testify on behalf of HR 713 from the amateur community, but Haynie said he's willing to take on the task.

Upton's willingness to hear testimony on the bill is considered critical to providing it with the necessary credibility as it moves through the legislative process and marks a major step toward getting HR 713 through Congress this year.

The agreement, during an April 30 meeting of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, came after Bilirakis asked to speak prior to consideration of another piece of spectrum legislation, HR 1320, the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act, which Upton sponsored. During his comments, Bilirakis spent about five minutes discussing the importance of Amateur Radio to the committee, chaired by Rep Billy Tauzin (R-LA).

The newest cosponsors of HR 713 include representatives Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Olver (D-MA), Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-AR), and Walter Jones, Jr (R-NC).

The Senate version of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act, S 537, recently got a boost when the chairman of the Senate Communications Subcommittee, Montana Republican Conrad Burns, signed on as a cosponsor. Burns is the expected architect of the Senate's spectrum management legislation. His cosponsorship indicates that the measure now has his attention and could convince others to follow suit.

Bilirakis filed HR 713 on February 12, while Idaho Sen Michael Crapo introduced S 537 on March 6. The legislation would amend the Communications Act to require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio and the Amateur-Satellite Service in the event of a reallocation of primary amateur allocations, any reduction in secondary amateur allocations, or "additional allocations within such bands" that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs. Bilirakis and Crapo, both Republicans, have twice before sponsored similar legislation at the League's recommendation. The bills point out Amateur Radio's volunteer role in providing emergency communication during disasters and emergencies.

Haynie continues to encourage ARRL members to urge their senators and representatives and to cosponsor the bills. Cosponsorhip lends support to legislation while it's in committee. The House bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet; the Senate bill will be considered by the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. "Letters and e-mails are the key to getting legislation passed," Haynie says.

A sample letter is available on the ARRL Web site. Those writing their lawmakers are asked to copy their correspondence to the League via e-mail.

The text of HR 713 and S 537 is available via the Thomas Web site.

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