Bill seeks to implement amateur radio private land use restrictions

U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Joe Courtney (D-CT) have reintroduced legislation they maintain seeks to govern private land use restrictions on amateur radio.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (H.R. 4006) addresses present federal law providing for the installation of TV broadcast and wireless internet antennas and satellite dishes at private homes, but failing to include amateur radio antennas in the statute as currently written.

“I reintroduced the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act to remove barriers to disaster and emergency communications and training, and to promote education in STEM subjects related to critically needed wireless technology,” Johnson said. “Passage of this bill will promote developing and sustaining our nation’s wireless future and facilitate and encourage amateur radio operations as a public benefit.”

Bill proponents noted antennas are essential for all wireless communication, whether TV broadcasts, wireless internet, Wi-Fi or amateur radio.

“As their actions during recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy proved, amateur radio operators in Connecticut can be a critical component of disaster response and emergency management,” Courtney said. “It is in our communities’ best interest that we give them the capabilities to operate at the highest level, and with the re-introduction of this bill, we’ve taken a strong step in that direction.”