YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR ADDRESS

Representative YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
REPRESENTATIVE'S ADDRESS
REPRESENTATIVE'S ADDRESS

TODAY'S DATE

Dear Rep. YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 1478, the "Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act," sponsored by Rep. Steve Israel. The bill would alleviate a problem facing many federally licensed Amateur Radio operators living within development communities who are subject to unreasonable restrictions or outright prohibitions regarding the installation of external antennas.

Under current law, the FCC applies a policy that instructs states and localities that they must reasonably accommodate Amateur Radio antennas. The policy, however, fails to address situations affecting private land-use groups. Rep. Israel's bill would ensure consistent application of these regulations.

This legislation seeks to insure that Amateur Radio operators are available for emergency communications in all sections of the country, regardless of whether they live in a development, such as a retirement community, or townhouse subdivision. Restrictions against antennas render Amateur Radio operators unable to utilize their licenses, which in turn may ultimately hinder their emergency communication role during times of disaster or national crisis. With mounting concerns about Homeland Security, I feel that a pool of amateur radio operators that are available for communications during an emergency is even more important in our current environment than it has been in the past. 

Amateur radio provides a vital public safety communications service to the public at no cost to taxpayers. I hope you will join Rep. Israel in co-sponsoring his bill.

I look forward to hearing from you as you consider this important legislation.

Sincerely,

 
YOUR NAME
YOUR CITY, STATE