AB 607 - Save the 420 - 440 MHz radio spectdrum for Amageur Radio

Once again, commercial interests have prompted a congressman to make an attempt to strip Amateur Radio frequencies way from Amateur Radio Operators and sell them to commercial resellers. Please take a moment to read this, and if you would like to support the effort to save the frequencies for Amateur Emergency Communications use, click on the ARRL link below for further instructions.

Moderator

From the ARRL http://www.arrl.org/hr-607

HR 607

On February 10, 2011, Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced H.R. 607, the “Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011,” which has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee (which handles telecommunications legislation). The bill addresses certain spectrum management issues including the creation and maintenance of a nationwide Public Safety broadband network.

As part of that network, the Bill provides for the allocation of the so-called “D-Block” of spectrum in the 700 MHz range for Public Safety use.HR 607 uniquely, provides for the reallocation of other spectrum for auction to commercial users, in order to offset the loss of revenue that would occur as the result of the allocation of the D-Block to Public Safety instead of commercial auction. H.R. 607 lists, among the bands to be reallocated for commercial auction within ten years of the passage of the Bill, the paired bands 420-440 MHz and 450-470 MHz.

The inclusion of most of the Amateur 70-cm spectrum as one of the replacement bands is a major problem. The 420-440 MHz band is not Public Safety spectrum and should not be included in any spectrum swap of Public Safety allocations

While the ARRL and all Amateurs support the work of Public Safety and recognize their need for dedicated spectrum which would promote interoperability, the ARRL vigorously opposes HR 607 in its present form. HR 607 is a direct threat is a direct threat to our limited spectrum and the ARRL encourages all amateurs to appropriately voice their opposition to this bill.