Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1685
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2015-06-25
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Federal preemption

Land use and conservation

State and local government operations

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2016-12-09
text: By Senator Thune from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 114-400. Additional views filed.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-06-25
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>Directs the Federal Communications Commission to amend regulations concerning the height and dimensions of station antenna structures to prohibit a private land use restriction from applying to amateur service communications if the restriction precludes such communications, fails to accommodate such communications, or does not constitute the minimum practicable restriction to accomplish the legitimate purpose of the private entity seeking to enforce the restriction.</p>

action_date: 2016-12-06
action_desc: Reported to Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><strong>Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to amend regulations concerning the height and dimensions of station antenna structures to prohibit a private land use restriction from applying to amateur service communications if the restriction precludes such communications, fails to accommodate such communications, or does not constitute the minimum practicable restriction to accomplish the legitimate purpose of the private entity seeking to enforce the restriction.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1685 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 25, 2015 Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To direct the Federal Communications Commission to extend to private land use restrictions its rule relating to reasonable accommodation of amateur service communications.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) More than 700,000 radio amateurs in the United States are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission in the amateur radio service. (2) Amateur radio, at no cost to taxpayers, provides a fertile ground for technical self-training in modern telecommunications, electronics technology, and emergency communications techniques and protocols. (3) There is a strong Federal interest in the effective performance of amateur radio stations established at the residences of licensees. Such stations have been shown to be frequently and increasingly precluded by unreasonable private land use restrictions, including restrictive covenants. (4) Federal Communications Commission regulations have for 3 decades prohibited the application to amateur radio stations of State and local regulations that preclude or fail to reasonably accommodate amateur service communications, or that do not constitute the minimum practicable regulation to accomplish a legitimate State or local purpose. Commission policy has been and is to permit erection of a station antenna structure at heights and dimensions sufficient to accommodate amateur service communications. (5) The Federal Communications Commission has sought guidance and direction from Congress with respect to the application of the Commission’s limited preemption policy regarding amateur radio communications to private land use restrictions, including restrictive covenants. 3. Accommodation of amateur service communications Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall amend section 97.15(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, so that such section prohibits application to amateur service communications of any private land use restriction, including a restrictive covenant, that— (1) precludes such communications; (2) fails to reasonably accommodate such communications; or (3) does not constitute the minimum practicable restriction on such communications to accomplish the legitimate purpose of the private entity seeking to enforce such restriction.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 700 114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 1685 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 25, 2015 Mr. Wicker (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Franken , Mr. Moran , and Mr. Coons ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation December 6, 2016 Reported by Mr. Thune , without amendment A BILL To direct the Federal Communications Commission to extend to private land use restrictions its rule relating to reasonable accommodation of amateur service communications.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) More than 700,000 radio amateurs in the United States are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission in the amateur radio service. (2) Amateur radio, at no cost to taxpayers, provides a fertile ground for technical self-training in modern telecommunications, electronics technology, and emergency communications techniques and protocols. (3) There is a strong Federal interest in the effective performance of amateur radio stations established at the residences of licensees. Such stations have been shown to be frequently and increasingly precluded by unreasonable private land use restrictions, including restrictive covenants. (4) Federal Communications Commission regulations have for 3 decades prohibited the application to amateur radio stations of State and local regulations that preclude or fail to reasonably accommodate amateur service communications, or that do not constitute the minimum practicable regulation to accomplish a legitimate State or local purpose. Commission policy has been and is to permit erection of a station antenna structure at heights and dimensions sufficient to accommodate amateur service communications. (5) The Federal Communications Commission has sought guidance and direction from Congress with respect to the application of the Commission’s limited preemption policy regarding amateur radio communications to private land use restrictions, including restrictive covenants. 3. Accommodation of amateur service communications Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall amend section 97.15(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, so that such section prohibits application to amateur service communications of any private land use restriction, including a restrictive covenant, that— (1) precludes such communications; (2) fails to reasonably accommodate such communications; or (3) does not constitute the minimum practicable restriction on such communications to accomplish the legitimate purpose of the private entity seeking to enforce such restriction.

December 6, 2016 Reported without amendment