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ARLB022 Spectrum Protection bill introduced

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ARRL Bulletin 22  ARLB022
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 30, 1998
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB022
ARLB022 Spectrum Protection bill introduced

At the request of the ARRL, a bill has been introduced in Congress
to ensure the availability of spectrum to Amateur Radio operators.
The bill, HR 3572, the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of
1998, would protect existing Amateur Radio spectrum against
reallocations to or sharing with other services unless the FCC
provides ''equivalent replacement spectrum'' elsewhere.  The bill was
introduced March 27 by Rep Michael Bilirakis of Florida, a
Republican, with the cosponsorship of Rep Ron Klink of Pennsylvania,
a Democrat.

If approved, the measure would amend Section 303 of the
Communications Act of 1934 to preclude reallocation of any primary
Amateur Radio allocations or diminution of any secondary
allocations, and would block any additional allocations within such
bands that would substantially reduce their utility to Amateur
Radio, unless the Commission at the same time provides ''equivalent
replacement spectrum'' to the Amateur Service.

The bill points out that a basic purpose of Amateur Radio is to
provide ''voluntary, noncommercial radio service, particularly
emergency communications,'' and that Amateur Radio has ''consistently
and reliably'' provided emergency communication during and after
disasters.  The measure notes that the FCC has ''taken actions which
have resulted in the loss of at least 107 MHz of spectrum to radio
amateurs.''

HR 3572 has been referred to the House Commerce Committee.  An
effort is under way to enlist additional cosponsors for the measure.

The full text of the bill is available at
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.3572:
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