Courtney Hails Bill That Bolsters Amateur Radio Operation

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney on Tuesday announced that the bipartisan Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 (H.R. 1301) passed the House of Representatives on Monday with "broad support."

The bill was introduced last year by Kinzinger with Courtney serving as the lead Democratic sponsor. The legislation directs the Federal Communications Commission to amend regulations that currently hamper the ability for many operators to effectively communicate with one another in certain areas around the country.

Click here to watch Courtney’s remarks on the Amateur Radio Parity Act on the House floor.

“I am excited with the bipartisan support this measure received in the House,” Courtney said. “As their actions during Hurricane Sandy proved, amateur radio operators in Connecticut can be a critical component of disaster response. It is in our communities’ best interest that we give them the capabilities to operate at the highest level, and with the passage of this bill, we’ve taken a strong step in that direction.”

Courtney said in 1985, the FCC found there was a ‘strong Federal interest’ in supporting effective amateur radio communications, especially to enhance local communications during natural disasters. However, local zoning ordinances often restrict amateur radio operators from placing antennas on private property, he said.

In response to these growing restrictions, H.R. 1301 would require the uniform application of the FCC’s balanced, “reasonable accommodation” policy to all types of land use regulation for amateur radio antennas.

Courtney said that during Hurricane Sandy, amateur radio operators involved with NOAA’s SKYWARN were very active in Connecticut, helping coordinate disaster relief like food deliveries to local shelters, and reporting downed trees and power lines. They also assisted in establishing communications networks, and providing backup systems during the disaster recovery.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel