H.r. 607

[cjs]

A bipartisan group of congressmen have introduced a bill that proposes to auction off much of the 70cm band to commercial users, in order to offset the revenue lost by the reallocation of some analog TV frequencies to first responders.

ARRL is opposing this effort and asking hams to write letters to their representatives.

http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-asks-members-to-write-in-opposition-to-hr-607

http://www.arrl.org/sample-letters

On February 10, 2011, Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced H.R. 607, the “Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011,” which has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee (which handles telecommunications legislation). The bill addresses certain spectrum management issues including the creation and maintenance of a nationwide Public Safety broadband network.

As part of that network, the Bill provides for the allocation of the so-called “D-Block” of spectrum in the 700 MHz range for Public Safety use.HR 607 uniquely, provides for the reallocation of other spectrum for auction to commercial users, in order to offset the loss of revenue that would occur as the result of the allocation of the D-Block to Public Safety instead of commercial auction. H.R. 607 lists, among the bands to be reallocated for commercial auction within ten years of the passage of the Bill, the paired bands 420-440 MHz and 450-470 MHz.

The inclusion of most of the Amateur 70-cm spectrum as one of the replacement bands is a major problem. The 420-440 MHz band is not Public Safety spectrum and should not be included in any spectrum swap of Public Safety allocations

While the ARRL and all Amateurs support the work of Public Safety and recognize their need for dedicated spectrum which would promote interoperability, the ARRL vigorously opposes HR 607 in its present form. HR 607 is a direct threat is a direct threat to our limited spectrum and the ARRL encourages all amateurs to appropriately voice their opposition to this bill.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Thanks for helping to get the word out!

 

[Ozarker]

If it passes, be sure to send you boat anchors to the congressmen, maybe personal delivery through their picture window. Or, sence they are making personal property worthless, guess they will need to buy them back, you know, that little thing about the taking of property or depriving the use thereof.

I'm sure there are people who won't care if they have a legal use of not. Guess the FCC can chase a moving target, but that will be hard to catch if use is limited.

Billy Long, is supposedly a co-sponsor, when asked about it, he claimed he knew nothing about it. He's an Auctioneer, so he auctions his vote off to the highest bidder. He can't debate (he didn't take that in highschool, his highest formal schooling achieved) so he will stick his head in the sand instead of opening his mouth. You know what they say, better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it!

No sence in contacting him, he will do what ever Roy Blunt tells him to do.
Hope AARL nails this one again!:coffeedrink:

 

[tdesanto]

Thanks for the alert.

Letter sent.