From: "ARRL AT-PA Division" Subject: Immediate Action Requested for PA Antenna Bill Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:07:45 -0400 (EDT) I received this letter for amateur radio operators in Pennsylvania to write their state representatives and Dwight Evans, the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. If you are interested in having good antenna legislation enacted in Pennsylvania, I would strongly urge you to send these letters. Copies of the suggested letters are included below the write up: Bill Edgar N3LLR Atlantic Division Director - - - - - - - - - - Gentleman, Please see the attached document from Joe, N3TTE. They're sample letters to be sent to your local rep as well as Rep Dwight Evans, the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. After speaking to my local representative his office suggested that all interested parties contact Representative Evans urging him to bring the bill out of Committee and up to the house for a full vote. AB3ER also called Rep. Evans office and the staffer there commented that the Appropriations Committed was being "used" to kill the bill. We need to look like an 800Lb Gorilla who votes coming at these representatives to keep the special interest (PA State Association of Township Supervisors) from killing this legislation. Chuck / W3YNI - - - - - - - - - - - Dear Representative Xxxxxxxx HB-1777, which I have previously asked you to support, has been sent to the House Appropriations Committee at the request of a special interest group. This is a purely political move by the Democratic Caucus to try to kill it. Sending HB-1777 to the Appropriations Committee is not appropriate because HB-1777 DOES NOT involve any expenditure of state funds. I sent the following email to Representative Evans in an attempt to persuade him to release the bill to the floor for a vote. As an amateur radio operator and a voting constituent of yours, I and my colleagues in your district would be very grateful if you would contact Representative Evans and add your voice to ours. Respectfully Joe Ham Dear Representative Evans I am writing this email to request that HB-1777 be released from the Appropriations Committee of which you are the chairman. HB-1777 does not involve any appropriation of state funds, instead its purpose is to show support for the Commonwealth's amateur radio operators and to bring Pennsylvania law into agreement with federal law (PRB-1). I have read this bill on the General Assembly's website and will confirm that it accurately echoes the equivalent Federal law and that it involves no expense to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Amateur radio operators volunteer their own funds for equipment and other expenses; in fact we are prohibited by Federal law from accepting any remuneration for our services. (Although I have on occasion accepted coffee, water, or a donut.) HB-1777 was sent to your committee by a special interest group in the hope that it would languish until the end of this legislative session. As a citizen of Pennsylvania, an amateur radio operator, and a willing volunteer, I am respectfully requesting that release this bill from committee to the floor, then vote in its favor when it comes up for a vote. Amateur radio operators voluntarily use their equipment and expertise to provide emergency communications to support government agencies and private relief agencies, such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army during emergencies and disasters. In fact, most county emergency operations centers, such as the ones in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties, include an amateur radio station. As an example, when Hurricane Katrina destroyed communications facilities, amateur radio operators in the affected area were the first to establish emergency communications with the rest of the nation. When Hurricane Ike struck earlier this year, amateur radio also was there afterwards to support the various relief agencies. Closer to home, when there was flooding along the local rivers several years ago from the remnants of another hurricane, the local amateur radio operators (including myself) assisted the police and fire, by reporting emergency conditions using prearranged amateur frequencies to the local emergency operation centers. Then we went to fire stations and schools to help coordinate the care of those who had to evacuate their homes. And the day after, we assisted with the damage assessment. Because the cell phone system was jammed with people trying to call home, amateur radio was used to supplement normal emergency communications. In addition, we also take part in various local and statewide emergency drills, including WMD preparedness. On June 28 and 29, amateur radio operators across the nation took part in a yearly emergency communications exercise, called Field Day, in which we will be operating simulated emergency radio communication centers. In addition to these emergency stations, amateur radio operators also participated from their home stations as an essential part of this exercise. In the month of October, amateur radio operators throughout Pennsylvania and the nation will take part in simulated emergency drills to verify that their equipment and their skills will be ready to serve our Commonwealth and nation when required to do so. In summary, the amateur radio operators of Pennsylvania are a resource that local governments and relief agencies can and do call on in an emergency of during a disaster. HB-1777 will help to ensure that we are available when the Commonwealth and the nation require our services. Thank you, Joe Ham -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Atlantic Division Director: William Edgar, N3LLR n3llr@arrl.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- This message is being sent to you via the ARRL Members Only Web site. If you do not want to receive further messages, go to the site at: http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1 Log in with your username and password and change your email options. Unchecking the "News and information from your Division Director and Section Manager" box will prevent messages such as this one from being sent to you. -- webmaster@arrl.org