Weekly Hill visit report from Chwat & Co.

ARRL Weekly Update on Hill Visits

Week of September 17, 2007

Senator David Vitter – Monday, September 17

We met with Chris Stanley of Senator Vitter’s (R-LA) office.  His boss sits on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.  Chris is the Senior Legislative Assistant who handles Telecom for his boss. Chris was vaguely familiar with hams, as he believed he has met with a group in the past.  However, I took the time to explain our voluntary presence during Hurricane Katrina, and our importance as a back-up during emergencies such as hurricanes.  I explained the problems that we are experiencing with BPL.  He listened intently and took notes, but did not ask too many engaging questions.  I asked for his boss to cosponsor S. 1629.  He said he will be back in touch with me.  I will follow up with him on our request. 

Representative Tammy Baldwin – Thursday, September 20

We met with Kelzie Beebe of Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)’s office, whose member sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee.  Kelzie is the legislative assistant who recently began handling telecom issues for her boss.  Since Kelzie is new to telecom issues, I gave her the background information on ham radio operators, and explained the problem we were experiencing with interference caused by BPL.  She asked some very good questions, and seemed interested in the issue, especially as a general public safety issue.  She said she didn’t think her boss would have a problem cosponsoring H.R. 462, but said it would take some time to get the information through the process in the office.  I said that I would follow up with her in a couple of weeks. 

Representative John Shadegg – Thursday, September 20

We met with Tricia Roehl of Representative John Shadegg (R-AZ)’s office, whose member sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee.  Tricia is the legislative assistant who handles telecom issues for her boss.  Tricia was not very knowledgeable about amateur radio, so I briefed her on our organization, and explained our importance during emergencies.  I explained that we are experiencing a problem with BPL, and told her about H.R. 462.  Tricia was familiar with BPL, and asked some very good questions, including a question asking if BPL was slow in deployment, why should the FCC look at this, if its not really an issue right now. I explained that interference IS currently being experienced by hams, and that Congress should be proactive on this issue, rather than reactive.  She also asked for a percent of hams that experience interference due to BPL.  I told her I would get back to her on that – perhaps you all can help.  It didn’t seem like this would be something her boss would cosponsor, but she said that she would talk to her boss about it.  I will follow up with her on our request.