All That which was old is always new to those who do not pay attention. I have been recommending since 2009, when Texas faced the second wave of hysterical "cell phone/wireless communication/hands free" device laws intended to bludgeon technology back into the 1800s and its adherents into municipal court that the League should develop training for our Members designed to supply them with the tools to modify or defeat these efforts to avoid injury to Amateur Radio. But may the Saints preserves us, if we ever stand to lead. Such aberrant behavior was viewed to court risk and lordy, lordy, would have required new thought and effort at 225 Main. So our Members remain exposed to the "two-hands on the wheel" crowd that lacks any understanding of communications and couples that ignorance with a crusader's zeal to convert those they see as apostate to the one true behavioral norm they worship. In Texas we both institutionalized the definition of "wireless communication" to be limited to cellular services and created an exemption for AR/FCC licensees. We did so with the intent not just to affect state law, but to set the standard for the "me too" efforts at the municipal level. It worked. Bob & his Pennsylvania calvary are to be congratulated for an excellent effort and corresponding outcome. I will note that Bob's experience is not unique — the Jason of behavioral modification/anti-technology/anti-cell phone never dies. Even in Texas we routinely every few years have to beat back attempts to strip Amateur Radio's protection from the existing laws. I will also complement Bob on the well drafted message he sent to his Members as well as his leadership. As Benjamin Franklin observed: We either hang together, or we hang separately. Not everyone is a brilliant tactician like Bob or blessed with able assistants as was he, but we can provide the training and materials to permit others to perform as well as Texas and Pennsylvania. ______________________________________ John Robert Stratton N5AUS Director West Gulf Division Office:512-445-6262 Cell:512-426-2028 P.O. Box 2232 Austin, Texas 78768-2232 *______________________________________* On 5/9/24 10:44 PM, Famiglio, Bob, K3RF (Dir, AD) wrote:
We dodged a bullet - truly. We worked on this and had ZOOM meetings with the bill’s sponsor 3 years ago or so. I drafted an exemption – simple enough and it was approved. Unknown to me until April 2024, a week or so before the bill came back from the dead for a vote, a League member who came across the schedule for vote called me. Panic! The exemption was deleted by a rep who thought it should not be included. (Hams should just hang-up and drive). Days of work later and lots of letters and phone calls from me as director and from members in PA to legislators, we got traction. I thought we were too late to the game, but we pulled victory out from the jaws of defeat. I compliment some legislative staff who called me back and asked for documents, arguments and talking points which my office provided.
Attached is the language I requested be changed. I also attach the Division reflector message which tells the story and gave rise to our efforts. Paragraph (4) of the bill was my original language from years ago which they struck, then just replaced. We also helped our volunteer emergency responders who got word from my division message in April that the rule also prevents HT or microphone use for them as well. The language fix was to delete the strikethrough language of (6), being “operating an emergency vehicle and” , which means they need not be on an emergency vehicle to be exempt. They use their personal cars to respond and need their radios to coordinate. Some legislators did not fully realize our volunteers in PA fire service are the professionally trained primary responders for a jurisdiction, not some back-up for career firefighters. ARRL made some friends over this help.
Moral of this story: We MUST monitor this stuff as we did before Dan Henderson retired, with a legal research service reporting relevant bill introductions. Dan used to call me with threats. We do NOT have that now. The Legal Defense Committee will look this over and see if we need to recommend such actions and how. Cost? For 50 states it may run some $5000 per year. That is not pocket change. Someone at HQ then needs to review the summaries and inform the director and section managers as to a gathering threat for antenna legislation or other matters such as this.
*Bob Famiglio, K3RF*
ARRL Atlantic Division Director
610-359-7300
www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF
*From:*arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> *On Behalf Of *James F. Boehner, MD via arrl-odv *Sent:* Thursday, May 9, 2024 8:07 PM *To:* arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org *Subject:* [arrl-odv:35799] Re: Pennsylvania Handsfree Law
*Interested in seeing the text-*
Congratulations to Bob and all others.
‘73 de Jim N2ZZ
Director – Roanoke Division **
/Representing ARRL members in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia/
ARRL – the national association for Amateur Radio
Facebook Page: ARRL Roanoke Division
Website: www.arrl-roanoke.org <http://www.arrl-roanoke.org/>
Text, logo Description automatically generated
*From:*arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> *On Behalf Of *Luetzelschwab, Carl, K9LA (Dir, CD) *Sent:* Thursday, May 9, 2024 7:21 PM *To:* arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org *Subject:* [arrl-odv:35798] Pennsylvania Handsfree Law
This week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted
in favor of accepting the bill with the exemption.
Great job, Bob, and all others involved.
Carl K9LA
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