SB QST @ ARL $ARLB065
ARLB065 Congress completes legislative business; CC&R bill likely left
behind

ZCZC AG65
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 65  ARLB065
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  October 18, 2002
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB065
ARLB065 Congress completes legislative business; CC&R bill likely left
behind

Now that Congress essentially has completed its legislative
business, the CC&R bill, HR 4720, is not likely to see action this
year--although it technically remains alive until Congress formally
adjourns. As Congress winds down and the election draws near,
additional cosponsors also are unlikely at this point. ARRL
President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, said, however, that he's happy with how
the bill fared since its introduction last May. He emphasized that
the League remains committed to a congressional solution to the
issue of deed covenants, conditions and restrictions as they apply
to Amateur Radio antennas.

"This is really important for Amateur Radio all across the Unites
States, and the League is committed to try to get this bill passed,"
Haynie said. "This is probably the most important thing the League
has done in a long time." Haynie said that as more new housing
developments are built that include CC&Rs, the harder it will be for
hams to erect outdoor antennas.

Following its introduction, HR 4720 attracted 30 cosponsors during
this congressional session. No more votes will occur until a
post-election "lame duck" session, starting November 12, to complete
several appropriations, homeland security and other high-profile
bills. Another lame duck session in December also is possible.

With no further progress likely on the bill this year, the effort to
secure a congressional solution to the CC&R issue will start all
over again when the new Congress convenes in January. Haynie says
the measure will be reintroduced and get a new number, and the
effort to garner cosponsors once again will start from scratch. Just
when the measure will be put into the House legislative hopper
depends on when Congress reconvenes. The bill's reintroduction could
come as early as January or as late as March.

HR 4720 would require private land-use regulators--such as
homeowners' associations--to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio
communication consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal preemption.
PRB-1 now applies only to states and municipalities.

For more information, visit the HR 4720, The Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Consistency Act of 2002 page on the ARRL Web site,
http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr4720 .
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