Good Evening ODV,

 

I’d like to bring you up to date on the progress of H.R. 1301.  As you know the Bill passed the House and was sent to the Senate at the beginning of the September work period.  The Senate adjourned last Thursday, September 29th with no vote taken on the Bill.

 

The Bill was being hotlined (polled) prior to the adjournment, and we had no opposition made known to us.  Unfortunately a hold was placed on the Bill by Senate leadership as a result of, from what we understand, disagreements between both parties regarding the filling of future FCC Commissioner positions.  Of course, this has nothing to do with our Bill, however, with no movement on any front we have to wait this out until the lame-duck session.

 

There was one item of note.  Late last week the House Commerce Committee sent over a package Bill which included a number of telecommunication Bills that were passed unanimously in the House.  Included in this package deal is The Amateur Radio Parity Act listed under Title VII of the “Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2015” -- S.253.  This now opens a second front for us as I understand it, leaving two ways for this Bill to get through the Senate when they return after Election Day.

 

The email campaign has been a resounding success!  Over 55,000 emails went out and each Senate office heard from us.  The effort was truly a grass-roots effort starting with the ARRL President, followed by the Directors, and then the Section Managers.  At this point it makes sense to wait a few weeks and then turn it on once again, from scratch, when we are about to go into session.

 

Thank you all for your participation in this truly team effort.

 

73 de Mike