Act Before Noon Today 1/26/2021 (NH Hams)

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

From New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten:

 

I write to encourage favorable consideration of HB 313, to benefit the
radio amateurs of New Hampshire, the people who provide emergency
communications between hospitals, and train the next generation of
technologists who will grow the New Hampshire economy. There are ~5700
radio hams in NH, and most of them who live in a Homeowner Association-
controlled property find it impossible to put up an outdoor antenna for
ham radio, even though federal law, the Over-the-Air-Reception-Devices
rule (the FCC OTARD Rule), already allows outdoor antennas that are
virtually identical to those allowed under this bill. Please note: This
proposal does not allow towers.

This bill would allow:

• Antennas similar or identical to those for satellite TV dishes,
broadcast TV, or broadband internet.
• Single wire or minimally visible antennas,
• Antennas raised only in darkness,
• Antennas no higher than 33 feet (i.e., lower than the roof line),
and
• The use of a flag pole as an antenna.

It would only allow antennas on land where the homeowner already has the
right to exclude others, and it requires safe construction, with
municipal approval.

Here's the procedure to testify in favor of the Amateur Radio bill, HB
313,  being heard in the Commerce Committee today.

Go to this link: 
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx

• Select the date of the hearing as January 26
• Select the committee as "Commerce" (first pick)
• Select the bill, H.B. 313
• Select "I am a member of the public"
• Select, "I am representing myself"
• Indicate your position, "I support this bill"
• Enter name, phone, and email

Decide if you want to testify (not required).  If you do, speak for no
more than one minute.  It's OK to just say it's important for emergency
communications to be able to communicate, and you need a simple antenna
for that.  And that antenna is now prohibited.

SUBMIT THE FORM BEFORE 12:30 PM TODAY. This puts your position into the
public record.

It's very important to show support from the amateur radio community.  A
similar bill has been in Committee before, and has died for lack of
sufficient support.  Consequently the Committee will be skeptical. 
Opponents, like the CAI (condo association lobby) will show up and
testify against this bill.

Sincerely,

Fred Hopengarten, K1VR
ARRL Director
New England Division

Phil Temples, K9HI
ARRL Vice Director
New England Division

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ARRL New England Division
Director: Fred Hopengarten, K1VR
k1vr@arrl.org
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[Fred Kemmerer]

Thank you for posting this Dave. I have used the link that you provided to indicate my support for this important bill. Anita had done the same.

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

I put my support in as well!

Dan
W1MUZ

[Anonymous]

I added my support as well, even though I am not from NH, i think it is just as important in an emergency for the traffic to get out to neighboring communities in MA, ME VT etc. for obvious reasons a decent antenna is required.

[Aron Insinga]

I added my support through the legislature web site, and then (at 11:59:22) I sent e-mail to their address, and then I forwarded the message to my local rep.

 

[Len Segal]

Thanks for the heads up. I also posted my support for the bill.

[Anonymous]

Any word on how things went in Concord?  Did any NARS members testify?

Here is a link to the bill’s status (not updated as of 1/27/2021 10:17 AM)

NH HB313 | 2021 | Regular Session | LegiScan

 

[Randall Bashta]

I received a note from Representative Max Abramson yesterday regarding the letter I sent him. He has  friend who is a ham but was surprised to hear about all emergency communication capabilities offered by ham radio operators such as email through Winlink. or being able to type/receive messages with RTTY and PSK31.

He also was impressed to hear how much groups like the BAA rely on hams for the Boston Marathon.

I did ask him about the outcome of yesterday’s meeting,  He did not say exactly – However it must have been favorable. He indicated there would be another meeting in about a month.

Randall N1KRB

 

 

 

 

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Since this was a virtual hearing there may be an electronic record somewhere on the House web site. Some committees have been recording their hearings for a few years. So you might be able to see/hear the testimony and committee questions.

I now live in Maine, so I’m out of the NH process. However, I testified on the original bill when introduced a couple of years ago. That bill was very similar to the bill before Congress at the time. I still urged support for the original bill on the basis that it was a start and you have to use and MAINTAIN your skills and equipment to maximize your effectiveness in an emergency.

I took a look at the current language in the bill. It is superior and more comprehensive than the original bill. My compliments to the sponsor and Fred for their work on this.

Randall reported a another meeting in about a month which usually means that the committee will undertake further sub-committee work on the language before the executive meeting when the full committee will vote to: Pass, Pass with Amendment, Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), or Interim Study.

You can still indicate your support for the bill after the committee hearing. Contact the Commerce Committee and your local reps with your support.

Stay safe. 73.

Tom
AB1NS

[Fred Kemmerer]

See the following from Fred Hopengarten, our ARRL Division Leader. Please email your information directly to Fred. His email address is included at the end.

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The hearing on the NH HB 313 bill yesterday made it plain that I should collect NH Covenants from people who live in HOA communities or condos.

Can you put out a request for a PDF or Word version of CC&Rs from NH? I need as many as possible, to show the Committee how ridiculous they can be.

Here’s one excerpt I saw yesterday (but I want complete versions):

“4. Transmission antennas are prohibited.”

Think about that. It bans cell phones, baby monitors, garage door openers, and 2 m HTs!

Can you help me round up some CC&Rs from NH?

 

Fred Hopengarten, Esq.   K1VR
Six Willarch Road
Lincoln, MA 01773
781.259.0088, k1vr@arrl.org

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