Pro & Con Opinions on the 2017 Amateur Radio Parity Act

[W3WN]

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Wilson, N6TV <n6tv@arrl.net>
To: CQ Contest Reflector <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Tue, Aug 15, 2017 8:52 am
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Contesting from HOA neighborhoods -- Pro and Con on the Amateur Radio Parity Act

This was briefly discussed on CQ-Contest last year (see http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/CQ-Contest/2016-09/msg00122.html), but now there is now new information to consider.

CQ Magazine has just summarized the current controversy over the proposed Amateur Radio Parity Act (HR-555 / S.1534), providing useful links, here: http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2017/08/cq-white-paper-pros-and-cons-of-amateur.html
(http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2017/08/cq-white-paper-pros-and-cons-of-amateur.html)

At the bottom of the page you will find links to documents in support of the bill by the ARRL's General Counsel, Chris Imlay, W3KD, and papers written by prominent attorneys who strongly oppose the bill, one by Fred Hopengarten, K1VR (author of *Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur*), and
the other by Jim Talens, N3JT (retired FCC attorney).

At one time I supported the bill, but now I agree with both K1VR and N3JT that this act, if signed into law, will do more harm than good. Like me, you may not live in an HOA neighborhood now, but you may want to move to one some day. Passage of this bill could affect all U.S. contesters and DXers, for decades.

It is very important for contesters and DXers to contact your Senators soon, to let them know how you feel about HR-555 / S.1534.

73, Bob, N6TV

[KJ3N]

https://youtu.be/6OnAkY8YI0s

[N8YX]

...but now I agree with both K1VR and N3JT that this act, if signed into law, will do more harm than good.

Details, please?

What's this Act gonna fixwreck?

[W3WN]

Details, please?

What's this Act gonna fixwreck?You'd have to read the whole text, the gist of it is that some of the weasel wording, as presented in the bill, could permit HOA's to go through the motions but still effectively prevent Amateur antennas.

For example, something going on these lines...
"We gave you permission to put up one antenna, that's all we have to do!"
"But it's a single antenna for the 440 MHz band, not an HF dipole for 80 - 10"
"Doesn't matter. We reasonably accommodated you with one antenna, and you can use that one antenna to communicate. We're within the letter of the law. Pound salt"

[N8YX]

You'd have to read the whole text, the gist of it is that some of the weasel wording, as presented in the bill, could permit HOA's to go through the motions but still effectively prevent Amateur antennas.

<snip>

We reasonably accommodated you with one antenna...

And there it is...which is why contracts and other legally binding agreements must be concise instead of relative.

Yeah, this will turn out well.

[n6hcm]

do they have anything for apartment dwellers?

[K7SGJ]

do they have anything for apartment dwellers?

First and last months rent, plus cleaning deposit.

[KC2UGV]

do they have anything for apartment dwellers?

No, and there likely never will be. I think what sticks in most people's craw with HOAs is that they bought the property, so they feel they have full rights on the parcel. Most renters understand that they are just borrowing the property.

[WØTKX]

do they have anything for apartment dwellers?

A bigass truck in the parking lot with lots of antennas.

[N8YX]

A bigass truck in the parking lot with lots of antennas.

Exactly what a number of people have been known to do.

Some have trenched the yard between a window near their radio room and the driveway, installing a run of PVC pipe in the trench. Inside are coaxial cables (and controller wires for a screwdriver antenna, if their vehicle is equipped with one).

To operate, one disconnects the vehicle's radios from the antennas and connects the shack's coax. Disguise the ends of the pipe creatively and no one's the wiser.