Spectrum Management Bill Threatens Amateur Frequencies

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

A bill has been introduced into congress as the First Responder Act of 2011" HR607.
On the face, it sounds like a great bill, but there is a portion of the bill that is asking for 440 amateur band to be put up for sale.

We need everyone contact your US Congressperson and express opposition to HR 607.

This bill would jeopardize ham radio emergency communications used throughout the US, including Wrightwood.

Use this form to let Congressman David Dreier know that the way HR 607 is written will directly affect Ham Radio emergency communications: 
http://dreier.house.gov/contact.shtml

[Wrightwood]

Congressman Dreier,
On the face, First Responder Act of 2011" HR607 sounds like a great bill, but there is a portion of the bill that is asking for 440 amateur band (ham radio) to be put up for sale.

Ham radio is the only reliable communications that will be working when catastrophic incidents take place. The portion of HR607 that allows the 440 amateur band is a step in the wrong direction as this frequency is one of the most important bands used by Amateur Radio Operators in the United States.

Please do not allow this bill to go through as written as it will jeopardize emergency communications when catastrophic events take place.

Sincerely,
John Aziz - KG6ZEP
Wrightwood Communications Group
San Bernardino County Emergency Communications Service

[Bob C]

Submitted my response, too!

[SkierBob]

 I'm told that the bandwidth is worth billions, and it's important that more hams get involved with emergency and disaster communications as this will help with their argument to protect the frequencies they currently have.

[Bob C]

I'm told that the bandwidth is worth billions...

I never really like that whole idea of auctioning radio spectrum for money. It just rubs me the wrong way that the gov't is using their powers to make money like that.

[KC6ZGG]

I submitted my response to Congressman Buck McKeon who covers the 25th district.

http://mckeon.house.gov/contact.shtml

[Bob C]

Although not really related to this particular topic, here's another bonehead thing the FCC is allowing: http://www.gpsworld.com/node/11029

[Wrightwood]

The ARRL has prepared a sample letter for you to use when contacting your Representative in the US House asking them to oppose HR 607


The Honorable ____________________
United States House of Representatives
______________ House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative ________:

     As a voter in your district and as one of the nearly 700,000 federally licensed Amateur Radio operators across the nation, I ask that you oppose H.R. 607, the "Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011" in its current form.  H.R. 607 was introduced by Congressman Peter King (R-NY) and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

   H.R. 607 proposes to allocate the "D-Block" of frequencies (frequencies previously occupied by analog television) to be developed into an interoperable Public Safety wireless network. Earlier, it had been expected that the D-Block would be auctioned by the FCC for commercial use, but there is now substantial support for the allocation of the D-Block to Public Safety.  H.R. 607 also provides for the reallocation of other spectrum for auction to commercial users, in order to offset the loss of revenue anticipated by the auction of the D-Block.

   While I strongly support the work of the Public Safety officials who put their lives on the line for our safety, my opposition to the bill stems from the inclusion of the 420-440 MHz spectrum (the UHF 70-cm band) as part of a frequency swap and auction.  Very little of this spectrum is allocated to Public Safety, and only in very limited areas. Rather, it is allocated to government radiolocation services on a primary basis, with Amateur Radio allocated on a secondary basis. The Federal government uses this band for critical defense purposes, including Pave Paws radars for detecting surface-launched missiles aimed at the United States, and for airborne radars used for drug interdiction. The Amateur Service carefully coordinates its uses of this band to insure compatibility. The two services have a very good record of sharing this spectrum successfully, putting it to good use for both military and civilian purposes in the national interest.

   Amateur radio emergency communications rely heavily on our limited frequency allocations in the VHF and UHF radio bands.  The loss of access to the 420-440 MHz spectrum would make it very difficult for us to maintain this capability and would mean we could no longer use numerous systems that have been constructed on our own time and at personal expense to provide this important communications support.
   
Amateur Radio operators across the country repeatedly demonstrate our commitment to public service and emergency communications. Through our work with FEMA and other Homeland Security activities, state and local Emergency Management offices, and numerous charitable relief agencies, volunteer Amateur Radio operators assist the first responders, doing so at no cost to the agencies we support. The role of the Amateur Radio Service as a partner to Public Safety in providing supporting public service and emergency communications necessitates our retention of full access to the entire 70-cm band.

            We understand and support that Public Safety officials must have the spectrum they need to do their jobs.  However, it is not necessary to do so in the ill-conceived manner proposed in this bill.  Other pending legislation provides for this important goal to be realized without the proposed reallocation of non-Public Safety spectrum for commercial auction that is included in H.R. 607.  I urge you to oppose H.R. 607 in its current form.  Thank you for your consideration.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]

[kn3ick]

I seriously doubt they will take the full 430 to 440 Mhz away from Amateur Radio because first off we have Amateur Radio Satellite in the 434 and 435 Mhz range but however the 420 to 430Mhz maybe really a threat because they can't hear our links and ATV activity in that range. The links are usually low power from Mountain top to ground and never mountain top to mountain top so others can  reuse the frequencies. So again they can't hear much activity there even though we are using it!

[Wrightwood]

[kn3ick]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Mike Lisenco, N2YBB
n2ybb@arrl.org
917-865-3538

May 19, 2011, Massapequa Park, NY - A delegation of Amateur Radio operators from the Long Island / New York City area met this morning with Congressman Peter T. King (R-NY) to discuss his recent proposed legislation, HR 607, and its impact on Amateur Radio.

Congressman King said that he fully understands and appreciates the importance
of Amateur Radio and the service it provides to the community, and that he would see to the modification of the bill so that the 420 - 440 MHz band would be
excluded from the spectrum to be auctioned. The delegation included Mike
Lisenco, N2YBB, ARRL Section Manager for New York City / Long Island (NLI),
Peter Portanova, WB2OQQ, NLI Local Government Liaison (LGL), George Tranos,
N2GA, NLI State Government Liaison (SGL), and Jim Mezey, W2KFV, NLI ARES Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC).

"The Congressman went on to explain that it was never his intention to remove
the 70 centimeter band from Amateur use. He further asked us to `get the word
out' and inform the Amateur Radio community that 70 centimeters is not in
jeopardy," said Lisenco.

Lisenco, Mezey and Tranos spoke about the importance of Amateur Radio emergency communications while Portanova, who is also the local AMSAT representative, addressed satellite and other amateur use of the 70 centimeter band.

The Congressman was very receptive to the group, who also extended an invitation to attend Field Day locations in his District.
 

[Chesslike]