A joint resolution to recognize the achievements of radio amateurs, and to establish support for such amateurs as national policy.
PL 103-408 (S.J.Res.90), enacted 10/22/1994

108 STAT. 4228 
PUBLIC LAW 103-408—OCT. 22, 1994 
Public Law 103-408 
103d Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Oct. 22, 1994 
To recognize the achievements of radio amateurs, and to establish support for 
[S.J. Res. 90] 
such amateurs as national policy. 
Whereas Congress has expressed its determination in section 1 
of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151) to promote 
safety of Ufe and property through the use of radio communica-
tion; 
Whereas Congress, in section 7 of the Communications Act of 1934 
(47 U.S.C. 157), estabUshed a poHcy to encourage the provision 
of new technologies and services; 
Whereas Congress, in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934, 
defined radio stations to include amateur stations operated by 
persons interested in radio technique without pecuniary interest; 
Whereas the Federal Communications Commission has created an 
effective regulatory framework through which the amateur radio 
service has been able to achieve the goals of the service; 
Whereas these regulations, set forth in part 97 of title 47 of the 
Code of Federed Regulations clarify and extend the purposes 
of the amateur radio service as a— 
(1) voluntary noncommercial communication service, particu-
larly with respect to providing emergency communications; 
(2) contributing service to the advancement of the tele-
communications infrastructure; 
(3) service which encourages improvement of an individual's 
technical and operating skills; 
(4) service providing a national reservoir of trained operators, 
technicians and electronics experts; and 
(5) service enhancing international good will; 
Whereas Congress finds that members of the amateur radio service 
community has provided invaluable emergency communications 
services following such disasters as Hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, 
and Iniki, the Mt. St. Helens eruption, the Loma Prieta earth-
quake, tornadoes, floods, wild fires, and industrial accidents in 
great number and variety across the Nation; and 
Whereas Congress finds that the amateur radio service has made 
a contribution to our Nation's commimications by its crafting, 
in 1961, of the first Earth satellite licensed by the Federal 
Communications Commission, by its proof-of-concept for search 
and rescue satellites, by its continued exploration of the low 
Earth orbit in particular pointing the way to commercial use 
thereof in the 1990s, by its pioneering of communications using 
reflections from meteor trails, a technique now used for certain 
government and commercial commimications, and by its leading 
role in development of low-cost, practical data transmission by 
PUBLIC LAW 103-408—OCT. 22, 1994 
108 STAT. 4229 
radio which increasingly is being put to extensive use jn, for 
instance, the land mobile service: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS OF CONGRESS. 
Congress finds and declares that— 
(1) radio amateurs are hereby commended for their con-
tributions to technical progress in electronics, and for their 
emergency radio communications in times of disaster; 
(2) the Federal Communications Commission is urged to 
continue and enhance the development of the amateur radio 
service as a public benefit by adopting rules and regulations 
which encourage the use of new technologies within the ama-
teur radio service; and 
(3) reasonable accommodation should be made for the effec-
tive operation of amateur radio from residences, private vehicles 
and public areas, and that regulation at all levels of government 
should facilitate and encourage amateur radio operation as 
a public benefit. 
Approved October 22, 1994. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 90: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 103-368 (Comm. on Commerce, Science and 
Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 140 (1994): 
Oct. 6, considered and passed Senate and House.