Congress has been in recess, so there hasn’t been much activity on the Hill the past few weeks.

Here is a report on what has occurred the past week.

73 Joel PY/W5ZN

ARRL Weekly Update on Hill Visits

Week of September 7, 2007

Rep. Albert Wynn – Wednesday, September 5

We met with Ed Hubbard of Rep. Albert Wynn’s (D-MD) office, whose member sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Ed is the Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel for his boss. I went over the basics with Ed regarding amateur radio, and after doing so, he admitted he was aware of the problems that we are experiencing with BPL. I explained to him the issue of great public safety, and notes that Maryland is one of the fourteen states which utilized the above “low-band VHF” for state police operations. When I explained H.R. 462 and the study by the FCC to him, he seemed fairly certain and confident that he could speak with his boss and ask him to cosponsor, because of the public safety issue at hand. He did request a list of the FCC licensees within the district, which I sent to him yesterday. I have not yet heard back from him, but will follow up with him early next week on our request.

Rep. Darlene Hooley – Thursday, September 6

We met with Chris Huckleberry of Rep. Darlene Hooley’s (D-OR) office, whose member sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Chris is the legislative director who handles Telecom issues for his boss. Chris was very familiar with amateur radio operators, and he was knowledgeable about BPL. Regarding H.R. 462, he asked some questions about the FCC study, as well as who would be opposed to this bill should his boss agree to cosponsor. We talked through his questions, and he indicated that he would talk to his boss about cosponsoring. He asked that I follow up with him next week. It was a positive meeting.

Janet Worthington

Director of Government Relations

Chwat & Company, Inc.

625 Slaters Lane, Suite 103

Alexandria, VA 22314

(P) 703.684.7703

(F) 703.684.7594

Janet.Worthington@chwatco.com