Of Note...

The November 11, 2006 edition of Radio World has published a Commentary written by Don Schellhartd of Hams For Action.

Read it here.

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Hams For Action (HFA) Mission Statement

MISSION STATEMENT

OF

HAMS FOR ACTION (HFA)

Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A.

October 1, 2006

PREAMBLE

At present, virtually all Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) and many restrictive covenants ban all outdoor Amateur Radio antennas in affected neighborhoods. Similar antenna bans by landlords compound the situation.

We stress that such antenna bans function, in practice, as bans on any activity

by Amateur Radio operators, or “hams”. This means affected neighborhoods

are now being denied the potential protection provided by Amateur Radio emergency communications during and after a natural or man-made disaster.

According to Professor of Economics Ron Cheung of the Florida State University, at least 50% of the nation’s new housing is now governed by HOAs. Thus, it is becoming much more difficult to recruit new “hams”, especially among the younger generations who are most likely to live in the affected neighborhoods.

More is at risk, in years to come, than the volunteer emergency communications which hams have provided for a century. Also at risk are the public benefits

the Amateur Radio Service has traditionally provided by introducing young people to technology and empowering them to pursue careers in broadcasting, other technologies and/or science. At risk, too, are the public benefits which have flowed from technological innovations by hams -- and the unifying person-to-person links, across the country and around the globe, which hams have forged through their Amateur Radio conversations.

• HFA’S MISSION

• 1. HAMS FOR ACTION (HFA) educates governmental decision-makers, the general public and others about the present situation and the dangers it poses.

2. HFA takes action to substitute reasonable oversight of outdoor Amateur Radio for the total antenna prohibitions which are currently in effect.

3. HFA also holds public officials accountable for their actions, or lack of actions,

on this issue -- and other issues which affect the Amateur Radio community.