News broke this week that the ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI) have reached an agreement on the wording of the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301. Complete information on the Amateur Radio Parity Act, including a copy of the complete substitute amendment agreed to by ARRL and CAI, is available on the ARRL website.
This really is a big win for the ARRL and amateur radio, imho. The new wording directs the FCC to enact rules prohibiting the application of deed restrictions that preclude amateur radio communication on their face or as applied. Also prohibited would be deed restrictions that do not permit an amateur radio operator living in a deed-restricted community to install and maintain an effective outdoor antenna on property under the licensee’s exclusive use or control.
While this agreement does not guarantee passage of the bill, it certainly makes it a lot easier.
It is interesting to contrast the ARRL version of the story with the CAI version. For example, the ARRL calls the CAI “the national association of homeowners associations (HOAs),” while the CAI story calls the ARRL “ the lobbying group for amateur radio operators.” The CAI story also notes, “The compromise was reached out of necessity as H.R. 1301 was gaining momentum with 126 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives supporting the legislation under the guise that the bill is necessary to ensure critical amateur radio communications during a local disaster.” That certainly sounds like sour grapes to me.