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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Antenna Reform ARRL's New "OBJECTIVE #1"!

http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/

HAMS FOR ACTION

Don Schellhardt KI4PMG, President

1520 Porter Street

Richmond, VA 23229

(804) 433-7268

pioneerpath@hotmail.com

URL: www.hamsforaction.net

HAM ANTENNA GROUP “DELIGHTED” BY

RADIO RELAY LEAGUE’S NEW PRIORITIES

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 2, 2007 -- HAMS FOR ACTION (HFA), a small but nationwide group of Amateur Radio Service operators (hams) who seek modification of current total bans on outdoor ham antennas, has announced that it “applauds” a January 28 re-statement of “legislative objectives” by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). The Board has elevated to “Objective #1” the goal of Congressional legislation to substitute reasonable regulation of antennas for the total antenna bans that many Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) now impose.

“Most HFA Members were delighted by the Board’s recently adopted statement,” declared HFA’s current President, Don Schellhardt KI4PMG of Virginia. “HFA applauds the decision.” Schellhardt is a Government Relations attorney, with a background in communications, energy, the environment and family law.

ARRL’s other new “Objectives” are: #2, restraining interference-generating forms of Broadband Over Powerlines (BPL); #3, blocking efforts to further diminish the access rights of licensed radio spectrum users, relative to unlicensed users and especially “unintentional emitters”; #4, including a role for ham radio emergency communicators in any programs for disaster relief and/or homeland security; and #5, building stronger coalitions with other community-serving radio spectrum licensees (especially emergency communications agencies, other public safety agencies and scientific services).

While praising the ARRL Board’s decision, Schellhardt also expressed hope that ARRL and HFA “can agree upon a single bill to be advocated in Congress”. Since 2002, ARRL has supported legislation introduced by Representatives Steven Israel (D-NY) and

HAMS FOR ACTION Press Release

February 2, 2007

Page 2

Mike Ross (D-AR). In 2006, HFA submitted to the FCC its own proposal, which it considers more politically appealing, as a Petition For Rulemaking.

The Board’s action was taken after HFA publicly urged ARRL to make such a policy change. The Board’s statement, entitled “ARRL Legislative Priorities for the 110^th Session of Congress”, is posted at http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/ and is also posted, through a link, on HFA’s Web Site at www.hamsforaction.net

HFA’s “applause” was expressed in a letter from Schellhardt to ARRL’s Executive Director Dave Sumner K1ZZ of Connecticut, President Joel Harrison W5ZN of Arkansas and Great Lakes Division Director Jim Weaver K8JE of Ohio. All ARRL Board Members were “copied in”.

HAMS FOR ACTION

Don Schellhardt, President

1520 Porter Street

Richmond, VA 23229

pioneerpath@hotmail.com

URL: www.hamsforaction.net

January 31, 2007

David Sumner K1ZZ

Executive Director, ARRL

225 Main Street

Newington, CT 06111-1494

Joel M. Harrison W5ZN

President, ARRL

528 Miller Road

Judsonia, AR 72081

Jim Weaver K8JE

Chair, Planning Committee for

ARRL Legislative Program

and ARRL Board Member,

Great Lakes Division

5065 Bethany Road

Mason, OH 45040-8130

Dear Dave, President Harrison and Director Weaver:

As the current President of HAMS FOR ACTION (HFA), I want you to know that most HFA Members were delighted by the ARRL Board’s recently adopted statement of its lobbying priorities for the 110^th Congress. The Board’s new statement, as posted in the Government Relations section of ARRL’s Web Site, at www.arrl.org, is excellent.

As you know, HFA is dedicated to substituting reasonable regulation of ham antennas in place of the total ham antenna bans which now prevail in many neighborhoods. Thus, HFA applauds the decision to make this goal ARRL’s “Objective #1” in Congress.

We are further pleased by the flexible manner in which this goal has been phrased:

“The ARRL seeks legislation to extend the requirement for ‘reasonable

accommodation’ of Amateur Radio station antennas (a requirement that

applies to state and local regulations) to all forms of land use regulation.”

This flexible phrasing leaves room for ARRL to accept modifications of the Israel/Ross bill, as introduced in 3 successive Sessions of Congess, should changes be advisable.

HFA Letter to ARRL

January 31, 2007

Page 2

Within the near future, one or more representatives of HFA will be contacting one or more representatives of ARRL to determine whether:

• · HFA and ARRL can agree upon a single bill to be advocated in Congress
• · And
• · Some, most or all of HFA’s Members can integrate their personal lobbying
• · of Congress with participation in ARRL’s new grassroots lobbying program

• · As for possible action by the FCC, as opposed to Congress, HFA will continue to act independently. HFA must act alone because we are still the only national group which has asked the FCC, through a July 2006 Petition For Rulemaking, to re-consider past refusals to require reasonable treatment of ham antennas by private land use regulations.

When and if ARRL decides to issue its own call for a new rulemaking by the FCC, representatives of HFA will be happy to discuss possible co-operation and co-ordination with ARRL in this context. We note that ARRL has the option of advocating a new rulemaking without necessarily endorsing the details of HFA’s Petition.

In closing, HFA asks ARRL to note the new contact information in the HFA letterhead.

I have recently acquired a new cell phone number and moved from Colorado Springs to Richmond. Since I am still the President of HFA, this means HFA has moved with me.

HFA is now within 2 hours of Federal Government decision-makers in Washington, DC -- and I, as an individual ARRL Member, have returned to the Roanoke Division. However, since I am writing as the leader of a national organization, addressing other leaders of a national organization, I am “copying in” all Board Members on this letter. Once again: HFA applauds what you have done.

Sincerely,

Don Schellhardt

CC: Kay C. Craigie N3KN, First Vice President

Rick Roderick K5UR, Vice President

Rodney Stafford W6ROD, International Affairs Vice President

Dennis Bodson W4PWF, Director, Roanoke Division

Patricia Hensley N4ROS, Vice-Director, Roanoke Division

All Other ARRL Directors and Vice-Directors

Jeff Ryan K0RM, ARRL Section Manager for Colorado

John Chwat, Chwat & Company