HR 607 - Reallocates 70cm spectrum

[KI6MLU]

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.

Here's a link to the ARRL web site with a further explanation and a request for ham operators to voice their opposition to this bill:
http://www.arrl.org/hr-607

[K7VZ]

Thanks for posting Russ.

Write or call your congress-persons requesting they defeat this.


Message:
Dear Mr. Quayle, I urge you to vote NO to HR 607. Part of this bill takes frequency allocations from the Amateur Radio bands. As an avid ham radio enthusiast, I find this unacceptable. In Arizona, we use these frequencies for communications in remote areas and in the instance of an emergency. This allocation also impacts the frequencies used by amateur television that cannot be reassigned elsewhere. Ham radio is a great hobby that deserves to keep the frequencies it currently has. Vote NO on HR 607. Thank you, Virgil Silhanek - K7VZ