Cosponsor list for CC&R bill, HR 4720, continues to grow

Four new cosponsors have signed aboard HR 4720, the bill in Congress aimed at providing relief to amateurs faced with private deed covenants, conditions

Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
29th September 2002

Four new cosponsors have signed aboard HR 4720, the bill in Congress aimed at providing relief to amateurs faced with private deed covenants, conditions and restrictions–CC&Rs–in erecting antennas. The latest additions made a total of nine new cosponsors in the past month alone. HR 4720 has been referred to the House Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee.

To date, 27 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have agreed to cosponsor the measure. The list includes two amateurs—Oregon Republican Greg Walden, WB7OCE—one of the two original cosponsors of HR 4720 with Texas Republican Pete Sessions—and Arkansas Democrat Mike Ross, WD5DVR. Walden and Ross are believed to be the only amateur radio licensees in the House.

Arkansas Section Manager Bob Ideker, WB5VUH, credited the Fort Smith Amateur Radio Club with influencing one of the most recent cosponsors—Arkansas Republican John Boozman—to sign onto the bill as a cosponsor. A third Arkansas congressman, Democrat Marion Berry, also was new to the list. “Three congressmen from Arkansas down, one to go!” exclaimed Ideker.

Other recent arrivals included representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Constance Morella (R-Md.), Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.), Michael McNulty (D-N.Y.), and Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii).

On Capitol Hill for a visit Sept. 19, ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, said his meetings with members of Congress and their staff in general and with House Internet and Telecommunications Subcommittee members in particular were very favorable. “All my work on The Hill on HR 4720 was extremely encouraging,” Haynie said. “I felt real good about it.”

New York Democrat Steve Israel introduced HR 4720—the “Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act”—on May 14. The measure 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.

(American Radio Relay League Letter)