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ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTS LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES FOR 115TH CONGRESS
THE BOARD FACED A VARIED AGENDA WHEN IT MET IN JANUARY.  RICK LINDQUIST,
WW1ME WW1ME ARRL. ORG THE ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED FIVE
LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES FOR THE 115TH US CONGRESS WHEN IT MET IN CONNECTICUT
ON JANUARY 20 21.  ARRL PRESIDENT RICK RODERICK, K5UR, CHAIRED THE SESSION.
THE FIRST OBJECTIVE WAS TO SEEK EARLY CONGRESSIONAL PASSAGE OF THE AMATEUR
RADIO PARITY ACT OF 2017, H.R. 555, AND OF ANY SENATE COMPANION BILL THAT
MIGHT BE INTRODUCED.  H.R. 555 CLEARED THE HOUSE ON JANUARY 23.  THE BOARD
WAS TOLD THAT SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL WOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE REPORT LANGUAGE FROM CONGRESS TO THE FCC.  IN ADDITION TO
THE NEW PARITY ACT INITIATIVE, THE ARRL BOARD AGREED THAT THE LEAGUE WOULD
OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE REALLOCATION OF EXISTING
ALLOCATIONS.  THE BOARD ALSO SAID ARRL WILL OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT
DIMINISHES THE RIGHTS OF FEDERAL LICENSEES IN FAVOR OF UNLICENSED EMITTERS
OR ENCOURAGES THE DEPLOYMENT OF SPECTRUM POLLUTING TECHNOLOGIES.  FURTHER,
THE LEAGUE WILL SEEK RECOGNITION OF THE UNIQUE RESOURCES, CAPABILITIES, AND
EXPERTISE OF THE AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE IN ANY LEGISLATION ADDRESSING
COMMUNICATION ISSUES RELATED TO EMERGENCIES, DISASTERS, OR NATIONAL
SECURITY.  FINALLY, ARRL WILL SUPPORT THE COMPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE
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