SB QST @ ARL $ARLB011
ARLB011 New "PRB-1" Law Now in Effect in Ohio
ZCZC AG11
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 11 ARLB011
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT May 17, 2012
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB011
ARLB011 New "PRB-1" Law Now in Effect in Ohio
On May 15, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a bill into law granting
comprehensive rights to Amateur Radio operators in that state.
Several key players in the successful effort to enact a "PRB-1" law
in Ohio were present for the signing, including Section Manager
Frank J. Piper, KI8GW; Rick Swain, KK8O; Bill Carpenter, AA8EY;
Steve Katz, N8WL, and Constance Barsky, WD8ODC. ARRL Great Lakes
Division Director James Weaver, K8JE, was also at the signing.
Ohio SM Frank Piper provided some background:
"In the past three years, we have had four versions of this bill in
the Ohio Statehouse. In the last State Assembly, these bills died in
Committee. In this current Assembly, everything lined up for us, and
House Bill 158 made the entire journey from Introduction to the
Governor Kasich's signature.
"We had to make a few revisions to HB 158 during its travels through
committee hearings, but in the end we finished with an Act that
places the full language of CFR 47, Part 97.15 into the Ohio Revised
Code. In addition, language at the end of the law states: 'Any
legislative authority that denies an application for approval of an
amateur station antenna structure shall state the reasons for the
denial and shall, on appeal, bear the burden of proving that the
authority's actions are consistent with this section.' This language
removes the burden of proof from the Amateur Radio operator and
places it on the legislative authority.
"State Government Liaison Nick Pittner, K8NAP, did a tremendous job
over the past several years, staying on top of the status of bills
that were running their course on both sides of the Statehouse. Nick
knew when to call in key people to testify to Committees, and was
instrumental in the process of negotiating the required revisions
when requested.
"My thanks go out to all the Amateur Radio operators in the Ohio
Section who called, wrote and e-mailed their State Representatives
and Senators to support this legislation. Without their grass roots
work, this victory would not have been possible."
NNNN
/EX
