I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2160 
To promote and encourage the valuable public service, disaster relief, and 
emergency communications provided on a volunteer basis by licensees 
of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Serv-
ice, by undertaking a study of the uses of amateur radio for emergency 
and disaster relief communications, by identifying unnecessary or unrea-
sonable impediments to the deployment of Amateur Radio emergency 
and disaster relief communications, and by making recommendations 
for relief of such unreasonable restrictions so as to expand the uses 
of amateur radio communications in Homeland Security planning and 
response. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 29, 2009 
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas (for herself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, 
Ms. KILROY, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, and Mr. THOMPSON of 
Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To promote and encourage the valuable public service, dis-
aster relief, and emergency communications provided on 
a volunteer basis by licensees of the Federal Communica-
tions Commission in the Amateur Radio Service, by un-
dertaking a study of the uses of amateur radio for emer-
gency and disaster relief communications, by identifying 
unnecessary or unreasonable impediments to the deploy-
ment of Amateur Radio emergency and disaster relief 
communications, and by making recommendations for 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:37 Apr 30, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H2160.IH
H2160
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
relief of such unreasonable restrictions so as to expand 
the uses of amateur radio communications in Homeland 
Security planning and response. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Amateur Radio Emer-
gency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Nearly 700,000 amateurs radio operators in 
the United States are licensed by the Federal Com-
munications Commission in the Amateur Radio 
Service. 
(2) Amateur Radio operators provide, on a vol-
unteer basis, a valuable public service to their com-
munities, their States, and to the Nation, especially 
in the area of national and international disaster 
communications. 
(3) Emergency and disaster relief communica-
tions services by volunteer Amateur Radio operators 
have consistently and reliably been provided before, 
during, and after floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, for-
est fires, earthquakes, blizzards, train accidents, 
chemical spills, and other disasters. These commu-
nications services include services in connection with 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:37 Apr 30, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2160.IH
H2160
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
significant examples, such as hurricanes Katrina, 
Rita, Hugo, and Andrew; the relief effort at the 
World Trade Center, and the Pentagon following the 
2001 terrorist attacks; and the Oklahoma City 
bombing in April 1995. 
(4) Amateur Radio has formal agreements for 
the provision of volunteer emergency communica-
tions activities with the Department of Homeland 
Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy, the National Weather Service, the National Com-
munications System, and the Association of Public 
Safety Communications Officials, as well as with dis-
aster relief agencies, including the American Na-
tional Red Cross and the Salvation Army. 
(5) The Congress passed Public Law 103–408 
which was signed by the President on October 22, 
1994. This included in Section 1 the following find-
ing of Congress: ‘‘Reasonable accommodation should 
be made for the effective operation of amateur radio 
from residences, private vehicles and public areas, 
and the regulation at all levels of government should 
facilitate and encourage amateur radio operation as 
a public benefit.’’ 
(6) The Congress passed Public Law 109–295 
which was signed by the President on October 4, 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:37 Apr 30, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2160.IH
H2160
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
2006. This included a provision in the Department 
of Homeland Security Appropriations legislation for 
fiscal year 2007 that directed the Department’s Re-
gional Emergency Communications Coordinating 
Working Group to coordinate their activities with 
‘‘ham and amateur radio operators’’ among the elev-
en other emergency organizations such as ambulance 
services, law enforcement, and others. 
(7) Amateur Radio, at no cost to taxpayers, 
provides a fertile ground for technical self-training 
in modern telecommunications, electronic technology, 
and emergency communications techniques and pro-
tocols. 
(8) There is a strong Federal interest in the ef-
fective performance of Amateur Radio stations, and 
that performance must be given support at all levels 
of government and given protection against unrea-
sonable regulation and impediments to the provision 
of these valuable communications. 
SEC. 3. STUDY OF ENHANCED USES OF AMATEUR RADIO IN 
EMERGENCY AND DISASTER RELIEF COMMU-
NICATION, AND FOR RELIEF OF RESTRIC-
TIONS. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:37 Apr 30, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2160.IH
H2160
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
(1) shall undertake a study on the uses and ca-
pabilities of Amateur Radio communications in 
emergencies and disaster relief; and 
(2) shall report its findings to Congress not 
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(b) SCOPE OF THE STUDY.—The study required by 
this section shall— 
(1) include recommendations— 
(A) for enhancements in the voluntary de-
ployment of Amateur Radio licensees in disaster 
and emergency communications and disaster re-
lief efforts; and 
(B) for improved integration of Amateur 
Radio operators in planning and in furtherance 
of the Department of Homeland Security initia-
tives; 
(2)(A) identify unreasonable or unnecessary im-
pediments to enhanced Amateur Radio communica-
tions, such as the effects of private land use regula-
tions on residential antenna installations; and 
(B) make recommendations regarding such im-
pediments; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:37 Apr 30, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2160.IH
H2160
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
(3)(A) include an evaluation of section 207 of 
the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 
104–104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996)); and 
(B) make a recommendation whether that sec-
tion should be modified to prevent unreasonable pri-
vate land use restrictions that impair the ability of 
an amateur radio operator licensed by the Federal 
Communications Commission to conduct, or prepare 
to conduct, emergency communications by means of 
effective outdoor antennas and support structures at 
reasonable heights and dimensions for the purpose, 
in residential areas. 
(c) USE OF EXPERTISE AND INFORMATION.—In con-
ducting the study required by this section, the Secretary 
of Homeland Security shall— 
(1) utilize the expertise of the American Radio 
Relay League, representing the National Amateur 
Radio community; and 
(2) seek information from private and public 
sectors for the study. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:11 Apr 30, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2160.IH
H2160
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS