yellow_X
04-02-2008, 08:42 AM
As part of the ongoing ARRL Grassroots Legislative Action Program, I am
contacting you asking for your assistance.
As you are probably aware, the ARRL is supporting S. 1629 sponsored by
Senator Pryor of Arkansas. This bill, known as The Emergency Amateur
Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007, directs the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate the interference
potential of systems that transmit broadband Internet services over
power lines.
Senator, John McCain, (R-AZ) has been identified by our Washington
team as a potential co-sponsor. I am asking that you write Senator
McCain expressing your support for S. 1629 and encourage him to become
a co-sponsor for this important bill in the 110th Congress. His
contact information is:
Senator John McCain
US Senate
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0303
Fax: 202-228-2862
The most efficient way to register your comments with Senator McCain is
to send a personal letter by mail or fax. If you need to send the
letter via email it should be sent to:
senator_mccain@mccain.senate.gov
Please understand that email doesn't have quite the impact as a
personal letter.
This is a cut / paste of the letter I mailed:
Dear Senator McCain:
As one of the more than 15,000 Federally licensed Amateur Radio operators living in Arizona, and as a member of the ARRL -- The National Association for Amateur Radio, I am writing to encourage you to become a co-sponsor of S. 1629, The Emergency Amateur Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007, sponsored by Senator Pryor of Arkansas. S.1629 directs the Federal Communications Commission to study the interference caused by broadband Internet transmission over power lines, known as BPL.
Unlike other methods of providing broadband Internet access such as cable, DSL, wireless and satellite services, BPL has the potential to cause harmful interference to licensed radio services by polluting the radio spectrum. However the Federal Communications Commission continues to resist growing evidence that its own rules are inadequate to protect radio communication systems, including those relied upon on by first responders.
The FCC needs to objectively and thoroughly review its rules and adopt new rules necessary to keep the interference from BPL within reasonable bounds. Unfortunately to date not only has the FCC shown no inclination to do so, it also has failed to enforce its existing rules, even in specific instances where harmful interference is well documented and demonstrated.
The Amateur Radio service is a well documented and valuable resource. While its role in recent large scale disasters such as Hurricane Katrina is familiar, the Amateur Radio Service plays a vital role in hundreds of smaller public health and safety events each year -- from wild fires in California and tornados in the Midwest to flashfloods in mountain communities to the loss of communication systems in small towns. Adequate protection from harmful interference from BPL services is essential to allow the thousands of amateurs who volunteer their time and equipment to effectively help in their communities.
Thank you for your consideration and support of Amateur Radio. And I ask that you become a co-sponsor for S. 1629. Sincerely,
Craig W. Jarboe
(address withheld on internet, yet printed off in letter)
KC7TJS
contacting you asking for your assistance.
As you are probably aware, the ARRL is supporting S. 1629 sponsored by
Senator Pryor of Arkansas. This bill, known as The Emergency Amateur
Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007, directs the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate the interference
potential of systems that transmit broadband Internet services over
power lines.
Senator, John McCain, (R-AZ) has been identified by our Washington
team as a potential co-sponsor. I am asking that you write Senator
McCain expressing your support for S. 1629 and encourage him to become
a co-sponsor for this important bill in the 110th Congress. His
contact information is:
Senator John McCain
US Senate
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0303
Fax: 202-228-2862
The most efficient way to register your comments with Senator McCain is
to send a personal letter by mail or fax. If you need to send the
letter via email it should be sent to:
senator_mccain@mccain.senate.gov
Please understand that email doesn't have quite the impact as a
personal letter.
This is a cut / paste of the letter I mailed:
Dear Senator McCain:
As one of the more than 15,000 Federally licensed Amateur Radio operators living in Arizona, and as a member of the ARRL -- The National Association for Amateur Radio, I am writing to encourage you to become a co-sponsor of S. 1629, The Emergency Amateur Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007, sponsored by Senator Pryor of Arkansas. S.1629 directs the Federal Communications Commission to study the interference caused by broadband Internet transmission over power lines, known as BPL.
Unlike other methods of providing broadband Internet access such as cable, DSL, wireless and satellite services, BPL has the potential to cause harmful interference to licensed radio services by polluting the radio spectrum. However the Federal Communications Commission continues to resist growing evidence that its own rules are inadequate to protect radio communication systems, including those relied upon on by first responders.
The FCC needs to objectively and thoroughly review its rules and adopt new rules necessary to keep the interference from BPL within reasonable bounds. Unfortunately to date not only has the FCC shown no inclination to do so, it also has failed to enforce its existing rules, even in specific instances where harmful interference is well documented and demonstrated.
The Amateur Radio service is a well documented and valuable resource. While its role in recent large scale disasters such as Hurricane Katrina is familiar, the Amateur Radio Service plays a vital role in hundreds of smaller public health and safety events each year -- from wild fires in California and tornados in the Midwest to flashfloods in mountain communities to the loss of communication systems in small towns. Adequate protection from harmful interference from BPL services is essential to allow the thousands of amateurs who volunteer their time and equipment to effectively help in their communities.
Thank you for your consideration and support of Amateur Radio. And I ask that you become a co-sponsor for S. 1629. Sincerely,
Craig W. Jarboe
(address withheld on internet, yet printed off in letter)
KC7TJS