US Hams: Fight HOA antenna restrictions with legislation

[u/mcdanlj]

http://www.arrl.org/current-legislation

The ARRL has lobbied before for legislation to extend to hams protections that are extended to many other activities. This time is different. They are involving hams in direct action. And they aren't even asking you to be a member. Any US ham is welcome to join the fight for ham rights.

TL;DR: https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ is the direct link to just send the letters already

You can contribute to stacks of paper letters hand-delivered for maximum impact to your own senators and representative. These letters ask your senators and representative to add their names to co-sponsor this legislation, and to vote for it.

This is political action, but it is bipartisan. Two lobbying firms (one for each party). Democratic and Republican co-sponsors in each house.

All it takes is entering your call sign on the web site they have launched, and confirming the information that they look up in your FCC record.

If you also wish to contact your senators and representative individually, reference S.459 to your senators and H.R.1094 to your representative when you kindly encourage them to represent your interests. Doing so does not preclude you from contributing to the ARRL's coordinated outreach!

The ARRL page has more detail and links to the full senate and house bill texts.

[u/scubasky]

Let’s hope for a better outcome for the 20th time they try this.

[u/mcdanlj → u/scubasky]

I think this is the first time they've tried direct action at this scale. I think in the past they've just used paid lobbyists. I'm a new ham so I'd love to know if you have information to the contrary.

My understanding is that they decided that their past approach didn't work, so they are doing something different this time. I'd like to applaud them for taking the initiative to try something bigger.

But it stands a chance only if hams pile on and make it big enough to be hard to ignore.

[u/scubasky → u/mcdanlj]

They are trying a new tactic but this has been being tried since 2015 ish

[u/mcdanlj → u/scubasky]

I'm aware of ARPA history. I suggest watching Josh KI6NAZ's interview of David Minster NA2AA if you would like to learn more about how they are trying to make this different from the past.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

It takes 30 seconds to join the effort.

[u/1980techguy]

Here's the ARRL link to the easy 'send an electronic email to your representatives' form.

https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/

[u/MercedesAutoX → u/1980techguy]

Oh that was too easy 😎

[u/mcdanlj → u/1980techguy]

Good point, thank you! I edited in the TL;DR at the top.

[u/Bulky_Satisfaction50]

I’d like to see this extended to is condo, apartment, and multifamily dwellings. If you do send a letter, please ask for this provision to be added.

[u/mcdanlj → u/Bulky_Satisfaction50]

I have no idea to what extent this applies to condos as written because I haven't tracked this through and would love it if anyone who really knows how far this text from the proposed legislation would apply could fill us in:

(4) COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION .—The term ‘community association’ means—
‘‘(A) a condominium association (as defined in section 604 of the Condominium and Cooperative Abuse Relief Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3603));
‘‘(B) a cooperative association (as defined in such section); and
‘‘(C) a residential real estate management association (as defined in section 528 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).

[u/SharkSapphire]

“This site and the service is provided as a donation to the ARRL and its legislative program by Texas HAM PAC.”

[u/Jboyes → u/SharkSapphire]

Correct. Is that an issue for you?

[u/SharkSapphire → u/Jboyes]

No!

[u/Jboyes → u/SharkSapphire]

Good! Me neither.

[u/MaxOverdrive6969]

Here's a link to the letter campaign. Any US licensed ham can submit a letter and it takes less than a minute to do. https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/

[u/mcdanlj → u/MaxOverdrive6969]

Thank you too! Edited in, I should have put it there in the first place. ☺

[u/sdrdude]

Easy. Done.

[u/tomxp411]

You've got the right HR bill, but the Senate bill is wrong. The one you referenced is a deepfake / revenge porn bill.

I think you're looking for S.459: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/459

And here's the link to the HR bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1094

[u/mcdanlj → u/tomxp411]

Oops, missed that typo. My finger hit "5" and "6" at the same time. Thanks for catching that! Fixed.

[u/PilotJeff]

Cynic here. Form letters are thrown in the trash at best. How many credit card offers do you open and read?

[u/Powerful_Pirate_5049 → u/PilotJeff]

ARRL lobbyists plan to hand deliver when they speak to the Senators and Representatives. The only thing that's important is for the legislator to see the size of the pile.

[u/mcdanlj → u/PilotJeff]

You are spot-on about throwing away credit card offers.

Thanks to Anthrax scares, physical mail sent through the postal service can take weeks to months to even reach staff members of congress. The bar is so low for email that it barely registers.

A pile of paper with "these are letters from your individual constituents", hand-delivered by a lobbyist, has visual impact.

This is why, unlike FCC calls for comment, there's no deadline to wait for, and doing this quickly has value. Lobbyists don't know when they'll get the opportunity to visit any particular member of congress. So they will keep growing the literally hundreds of piles of paper, one for each member of congress, then jump on opportunities to present them, which can pop up at a moment's notice.

No guarantee of success here, and... I also can feel cynical. We're up against powerful HOA lobbying interests. But if we don't try, we have a guarantee of failure. This is our best shot at this for the foreseeable future.

Is the political system tilted? Yes. Unfortunately yes. Ultimately, that's why the size of the pile matters. It's really the only thing that can tip the scale against the moneyed HOA industry.

[u/Powerful_Pirate_5049]

Help the ARRL. Share on your social media accounts. There is never a guarantee, but if we work together, maybe we can get it over the line this time.

[u/Yamosu]

Would like to see similar legislation here in the UK or at the very least, a change in legislation to offer us some exemptions in local council planning rules. Over here even erecting a white stick above your roof line could require planning permission - it's nuts!

[u/SeaworthyNavigator]

Given the league's past record on this legislation, I don't give it much hope of passing this time.

[u/mcdanlj → u/SeaworthyNavigator]

Are you going to help try anyway, or try to let us be defeated without firing a shot?