Help Make Ham Radio History in New York!
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We have a real chance to enact a law in the State of New York that we
believe will solve most of our “tower problems!” |
For a number of years, a group of volunteers, the Hudson Division PRB-1
Task Force, has been working to formulate the wording of the law and to
find state legislators willing to sponsor the bill. Last year we were
able to get a bill through three committees in the New York State
Assembly before the session ended. Your letters, phone calls and
contacts with your local state assemblymen and senators helped us do
that.
We need you to do your part again in 2001. The same bill has
again been introduced in the New York State Assembly and we anticipate
that in a few weeks we will have the same bill in the Senate.
We came very close to getting the bill passed last year. This year we
plan to concentrate on the NY Senate and get co-sponsors in the
Assembly. Our bill,
A-1565,
will enable amateur radio operators to put up effective antennas
without long, costly battles with their local governments to get a
building permit.
We need to point out to legislators that Amateur radio operators provide
an emergency communications network that is disaster-tested and robust.
We provide this service free of charge to the citizens of New York, a
service that would require many millions of tax dollars to replace. A
key element of a radio amateur’s capability to communicate is a small
radio tower but high enough to ensure effective communication.
Let them know that federal law already requires that reasonable
accommodation be made for these amateur radio support structures that
serve the public interest; however local town, municipalities and radio
amateurs cannot easily bear the burden of resolving local disputes over
what is “reasonable.” This delays replacing key elements of the amateur
radio emergency network. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal,
court and expert witness fees are spent annually to resolve these
matters. Ten states have already enacted legislation to remedy the
situation.
Therefore, it is in the interest of the citizens of New York State that
there be enacted into law specific guidance regarding the minimum height
below which local government and municipalities cannot restrict amateur
radio antennas.
But this bill won’t become law unless you send this message and persuade
your New York State Assemblyman and Senator to cosponsor or support
Assembly Bill A-1565
(Tocci). You need to write letters – and invest in postage to pass the
bills. Help New York hams have a chance at an effective antenna!
Write a letter. Make a phone call. Send e-mail. Do all three to make sure they get the message. Ask your representatives to co-sponsor or support
A-1565.
Contact your Assemblyman and tell them about the benefits of Amateur
Radio to your local community, the state of New York and the nation.
Also write to the important Local Government Committee Chairpersons,
Assemblyman Thomas P. DiNapoli, LOB 621, Albany, NY 12248. Please send a letter or QSL card to
Speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver, LOB 932/CAP 349,
Albany, NY 12248. Get your relatives, friends and neighbors to do the
same. Please, ask everyone you know to tell his or her state
representatives to support the bill. We need
thousands of letters to be effective!
When we get a number for the Senate bill, we will ask you to write to
your senator, so please save a copy of the letter you write now.
Amateur Radio has a long proud history of public service. Tell your
Assemblyman that we need this antenna law so that we can continue to do
our important emergency communications job with no cost to the state.
Don’t wait! Do it now! Help us make ham radio history in New York State!!
Special thanks to support from Cost Effective Dutchess County, NY Grout and Tile Cleaning & Restoration for their continued support of the cause for amateur radio in New York State!
The following links contain helpful information related to
A-1565, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), a sample letter
that can be personalized and sent to your state representatives, the assembly
and senate member directories and of course the text of A-1565.
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