recently received a personalized note from ARRL President Kay Craigie N3KN regarding how important Massachusetts amateur radio operators are for the passage of S. 1685, The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 right now. She writes:
We are at a critical time for S. 1685, The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015, in the United States Senate. There is reason to think this legislation will be considered in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation as early as next week. That is an extremely important step in the bill’s progress towards success.
We have learned that opponents of the legislation have urged their members to contact members of the Senate committee to communicate what can only be called bald-faced lies about the bill’s intent and effects.A number of steps are being taken to counteract those lies. We have to remind the Senators on the committee that amateur radio operators in their states want them to support the bill. I’m asking for your help as Section Manager.
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey is on the Commerce committee.
It is quick and easy to do what needs to be done.
Please phone the Senator’s office in Washington, DC, at or phone a local office. Or send an e-mail to the Senator using his official web page.
The message is simple: “I’m a constituent and an amateur radio operator. I urge Senator Markey to support S. 1685, the Amateur Radio Parity Act, when it comes up for a vote in committee on November 18th. Thank you.”
The Senator’s Washington, DC, phone number is posted at http://www.arrl.org/contacting-your-congressional-representatives.
His own web page showing local office numbers is at http://www.markey.senate.gov/.
Whether you phone or e-mail, the key thing is to do it now. As in, today.
If your Section has a web page or Facebook page, please this appeal there today. Whatever you can do to urge ARRL members in Massachusetts to contact the Senator right now and urge his support will be very important and deeply appreciated.
Sincere thanks and 73, Kay N3KN
Regardless if you are an ARRL member or not, if you are a licensed amateur radio operator living within Massachusetts, please consider following through with President Craigie’s request. Let’s show our support for our fellow amateurs that need this bill passed to put up a decent antenna system!
President Craigie also wrote directly to the Senate subcommittee yesterday on the ARRL’s behalf. This can be viewed at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/ARRL-S1685-Memo.pdf