Telecommunications Bill

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ARRL leadership in Pennsylvania is actively involved in a process that we hope will conclude shortly with an exemption to the restrictions in House Bill 37 that now await action in the Pennsylvania Senate.

HB 37 as you may know, prohibits the use of handheld devices while driving. The original intent was most likely to eliminate the use of cell phones and texting on cell phones while driving, but an exemption to permit Amateur Radio mobile microphone use was removed from the original bill. It passed the house without the exemption and awaits action in the Senate.

The Eastern and Western Pennsylvania ARRL Section Managers (W3GWM and W3BC), and the Eastern PA ARES Section Emergency Coordinator (WN3LIF) along with ARRL Vice-Director, attorney Bob Famiglio (K3RF Delaware County), are meeting with the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee January 30th to hammer out an exemption for ham mobile use. We’ll report back via email on our progress after the meeting.

Rest assured that your ARRL/ARES leaders are actively engaged in this process and working to ensure that the PA Senate recognizes the vital role Amateur Radio Operators in the Commonwealth play in Emergency Response to incidents and disasters.

73,

George Miller W3GWM

Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager

w3gwm

(570) 250-1007