DX RX

The Doctor of DX prescribes the
answers to your problems, low and
high, near and far.

A how to of what for, by Mike(aka Billy)Graham, K7CTW

Ralph Rosen, K1KM

It has often been said that we don’t know how good we’ve had “it” until we don’t have “it” any longer. And - there was a time in the past when, with special exceptions for proximity to airport landing patterns and where a falling tower might jeopardize certain public buildings (notably schools), an amateur radio operator could erect towers and pursue the pleasures of the hobby which come from having good equipment and antennas. However, over the past thirty years more and more amateurs have been and are faced with restrictive covenants and ordinances which, if left alone, would deny amateur radio operators their right to erect antennas used for amateur radio communications. We need only look East a bit toward the town of Hudson, and the hassle that Jerry, K0TV has been subjected to, to see the very latest example.

On September 16, 1985 the Federal Communications Commission issued its now famous PRB-1 ruling, which is, in simple terms, the FCC’s preemption of state and municipal regulations on Amateur Radio antennas. The ruling stated, in part: “State and local regulations that operate to preclude amateur communications in their communities are in direct conflict with federal objectives and must be preempted.”

This ruling was a Godsend to hams all across this country, and served as the foundation for the creation of new legislation, or modification(s) to existing state and local rules and regulations affecting amateur antennas. The full text of PRB-1 may be read at: http://www.gate.net/~donstone/prb1.html

But what has all of this to do with Ralph Rosen? Today at Hosstraders I had the distinct honor and pleasure of meeting him. A resident of Laconia for many years, Ralph is a long-standing member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, he is the ARRL New Hampshire Section State Government Liaison, and he is an avid DX’er, near the top of the list on the DXCC Honor Roll. But of far greater significance to amateur radio operators here in this state, Ralph is the author of two landmark pieces of legislation which have affected and which will continue to affect us all. The first is a State version of PRB-1, which has been so successful that Al Shuman, N1FIK, our Section Manager, has received numerous requests from other states for copies of the legislation and supplemental information needed to pass similar state laws. Ralph was cited in several QST articles at the time (1994 - 1995) for his most significant accomplishment. The second piece of legislation was introduced and passed when it was discovered that an amateur radio operator in the state was being assessed property tax valuation on his ham tower. More recently, Ralph related stated that he has been keeping an “eagle eye” on current legislative initiatives which seek to control the proliferation of commercial radio towers, no doubt in response to the “weed sprouting” of cellular towers everywhere. Ralph says that the intent is to legislate commercial towers, but he wants to ensure that these legislative actions in no way jeopardize the amateur radio operator. He also laughingly suggested that we hams need to start working at getting a few of the newer generation of legislators interested in the hobby and licensed as hams. He could use some help up in Concord.

Whether you’re a “lean and mean” DXer, a 56K-baud contester, a social ragchewer, a supercharged Class A bottom feeder designer/builder/tinkerer (Jack and Dave ... smile!!!), a VHF/UHF hilltopper, repeater builder and operator, a digital modes “phreaque”, or whatever your interests are in this hobby of ours, each of us ought to take the little time necessary to write a sincere letter of thanks to Ralph for all he has done and is doing on our behalf. Without the far- sighted work he and Al and others did, I don’t know what our status would be today. Most assuredly it would not be nearly as good. I repeat what I said at the outset: We don’t know how good we have it till we don’t have it. Thanks, Ralph.

Don Stoner, W6TNS, SK

Life is full of ironies. Just an hour or so ago I jumped over to Don Stoner’s website (referred to earlier) to review PRB-1 which is published in it entirety there. A few minutes ago I took a break from writing this column to rest the eyeballs and check my e- mail. I have just received a bulletin from the ARRL that Don is a Silent Key. For the benefit of the newer hams in our club, Don is very well known, having authored a number of books and articles on the subject of Amateur Radio, having written columns for CQ Magazine and other journals, and for having been the “father” of the OSCAR concept. Back in 1960 he proposed several amateur radio satellites. They came to be known as OSCARs (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio). These first orbiters were the rudimentary precursors to the very sophisticated satellites that amateurs build, orbit, and operate today. In more recent years, Don had also been on the forefront in legal battles over the rights of amateur radio operators living in covenant- governed housing and condominium complexes. His website is full of his work. He will be missed. Requiescat in pace.

Rochester Revisited

Sheesh!! That’s enough for now. Everyone I saw up there was having a great time. I think some great deals were made - or stolen. Till next month

For now, best 73 es gud DX de K7CTW

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