Losing HAM frequencies?

[CO_Hunter]

Saw this on Rising Sun, we may be losing our 70cm/440mhz band.

Losing 420-440 MHz? - Rising Sun Member Forums

Some of the links they posted.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/...tm?csp=usat.me

HR 607

http://www.rrmediagroup.com/newsArti...m?news_id=6814

 

[black95]

That's interesting. I was thinking on getting a single band 2 meter radio anyway, I really have no interest in Ham radio as a hobby or sport. This will influence my decision greatly when buying a radio. The single band radios are much cheaper anyway.

 

[CO_Hunter]

To each his own Luke, I understand your reasoning. I would suggest you look around at repeater frequencies, there are 70cm, although most are 2m. For example, if the 2m Pikes Peak repeater should go down there is 70 cm. The Colorado Connection Steamboat and Winter Park Frazer repeaters are 70 cm. I'll be writing a letter, form letter on the Rising Sun site. It would be great if folks could shoot off an email to their reps, if you have time and are so inclined.

I view this band grab as analoguos to trail closures. just my 2 cents.

 

[black95]

I view this band grab as analoguos to trail closures. just my 2 cents.

I agree. It's really too bad. To be honest though, with everything that is going wireless, I'm surprised we have any free bandwidth for amateurs at all. After all, the world is run by the almighty dollar.

The new form of slavery is loss of personal freedom. Right now-- as we speak, there is some slick haired entrepreneur sitting around trying to figure out a way to make money off of something you currently get for free. Probably putting money into your "representative's" pocket... Stupid politicians.

I really hope the 70CM stays around, I just know that as "free" Americans...We'll once again be bystanders with no say as to what laws get changed.

 

[FJ005]

The ARRL will lobby this just like it did BPL.

 

[CO_Hunter]

Looks like amateur radio has friends

Got this from RS site:

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB014
ARLB014 Senate "Companion" Bill to HR 607 Avoids Impacting Amateur
Spectrum

ZCZC AG14
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 14 ARLB014
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT May 25, 2011
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB014
ARLB014 Senate "Companion" Bill to HR 607 Avoids Impacting Amateur
Spectrum

On Thursday, May 19, Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and John McCain
(R-AZ) introduced S 1040 -- The Broadband for First Responders Act
of 2011 -- in the Senate. While it has a similar objective to HR
607 -- introduced in February by Representative Peter King (R-NY-3)
-- this Senate bill, unlike HR 607, does not call for auctioning any
portions of Amateur Radio spectrum. Both bills call for the
allocation of the so-called "D block" of spectrum, 758-763 and
788-793 MHz, to facilitate the development of a public safety
broadband network.

On learning in February that a Senate version of HR 607 was being
drafted, ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, met with
staff members of the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs Committee who were working on the bill to share the ARRL's
concerns with regard to HR 607. "They seemed very receptive to our
argument and appreciative of the public service contributions of
radio amateurs," Sumner said. "It is gratifying to see that S 1040
avoids impacting our spectrum allocations."

Sumner explained that while some media reports are referring to S
1040 as "the Senate version of HR 607," it is important that radio
amateurs not oppose S 1040: "There is no reason for us to do so. We
support the creation of an interoperable broadband network for first
responders. Other than to oppose any method that would impact
amateur spectrum use, we do not support one method over another of
achieving that objective. We only oppose one aspect of HR 607, not
the entire bill."

S 1040 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Science,
Commerce, and Transportation, chaired by Senator Jay Rockefeller
(D-WV). Senator Rockefeller earlier introduced his own bill, S 28,
to address the same general topic. Neither Senate bill would impact
amateur spectrum.
NNNN
/EX

 

[daveIT]

Someone typed up a canned letter we can send to reps. I'm not into Ham stuff yet, but would like to pursue in the future and I wouldn't mind sending a letter off, just don't know what to put in it.

 

[CO_Hunter]

Here you go, obviously you can omit cal sign but maybe add something about your desire to get HAM radio licensed, which by the way is awesome .

I got only a canned reply from Lamborn others in Denver got a real response. You can see them posted on the RS site at the first link.

Dear Rep. (insert name),

I write to you this morning to ask that you vote NO on HR 607. I am particularly concerned that this bill reallocates very important frequency spectrum from the Amateur Radio Service bands. As an avid ham radio enthusiast, I find this unacceptable.

In Colorado, we use these frequencies for many purposes beyond simple two-way conversation. The impacted frequencies are very widely used for communications in remote backcountry areas and by ham clubs assisting with communications during large events such as the MS150 and other organized bicycle events, marathons and the like. These frequencies are heavily used as part of the volunteer amateur radio emergency services called ARES and RACES. This reallocation also impacts the frequencies used by amateur television that have no alternative spectrum elsewhere.

Ham radio is a hobby with long traditions of cooperation, inclusiveness and education in important communication and technical skills that we as a society must encourage. So I urge you to please vote NO on HR 607.

Regards,
Name
Address
Call Sign