1/7
This will be a short series of posts, about the #ARRL efforts to shepherd HR1094 and S459 through Congress. These are identical bills that will give ham radio operators the same rights that TV owners have, and limit restrictions on antennas by local governments and HOAs.
Background-over 80% of new construction in the US is part of an HOA. Universally, HOAs ban rooftop antennas. Laws were passed that protect the right to have a TV antenna, but ham radio has not been covered by those rules.
2/7
Bills similar to these have been proposed before, but always without significant legislature support or lobby pressure, and have been presented as riders to other legislation, which has been their death.
This time, the ARRL has employed two major lobbying firms, one for each side of the aisle. They have found a lot of support on the Hill for both bills. At this point, the legislators involved are telling the lobbyists to prove there is support for the bills.
4/7 This is NOT a campaign to reach out to ARRL members. It is directed to ALL hams with a US FCC Part 97 license. Additionally, all ham radio clubs nationally are being given letters from the lobbyists to customize for their club, then returned to the lobbyists for presentation.
Our part as hams is simply to go to this link, enter your call and click a button. You can preview the letter and the bills if you wish. That's it.
Make sure any other hams you know see this.
5/7
Here's the link:
https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/
Wanna use your phone? Scan this QR code. Please share this far and wide.
6/7
If you are in a club, if it's an ARRL affiliate your local Section Manager should contact you. If it's unaffiliated or if you don't hear from your SM, EMAIL ME at [email protected]. It's not about getting clubs to affiliate with the league; I don't care. It's about getting the same rights for hams that all other citizens enjoy.
Here are the hashtags-I was short on characters before
7/7
Lobbying is about two things...theater and bribery. The ARRL has invested a HUGE amount of money for this, but bribery is too rich for us. So theater is what it is going to be.
Walking into a congress person's office with thousand of printed letters from THEIR constituents is good theater that works. I admit I was impressed and surprised that the League pulled this off. They are following up with a social media blitz, interviews with Youtubers (Josh has what, 400,000 followers now?)
W6KME