SB QST @ ARL $ARLB010
ARLB010 Vermont Governor Signs Amateur Radio Antenna Bill

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QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 10  ARLB010
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  June 7, 2006
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB010
ARLB010 Vermont Governor Signs Amateur Radio Antenna Bill

Vermont Gov Jim Douglas has signed Amateur Radio antenna legislation
that puts the language of the limited federal preemption known as
PRB-1 into the Green Mountain State's statutes. Vermont is the 23rd
state to adopt an Amateur Radio antenna law.

''Today we reached a milestone in Vermont Amateur Radio history,''
exulted David Cain, W1DEC, on May 30. ''PRB-1 is now officially
codified into Vermont's statutes.'' Cain chaired the PRB-1 Committee
and serves as Vermont ARRL State Government Liaison. ''To all of you
who worked so hard on this a hearty 'thank you' and 'well done.'''

ARRL New England Division Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF,
offered his congratulations to all involved in seeing the bill
through. ''This is a major achievement for Vermont, the New England
Division and the hobby,'' he said. The legislation, H.12, cleared
Vermont's General Assembly on May 10.

The new law requires local ordinances to comply with 97.15(b) ''by
allowing for the erection of an Amateur Radio antenna or an Amateur
Radio antenna support structure at a height and dimension sufficient
to accommodate Amateur Radio Service communications.''

Cain notes that a PRB-1 bill has been in the General Assembly hopper
in Vermont for more than three years. ''Hard work and persistence
paid off,'' he said, noting that lawmakers ''recognized the value of
ham radio and the need for reasonable accommodation.''

Section 1 of the bill declares it Vermont policy ''that Amateur Radio
use and Amateur Radio antennas and support structures protect and
promote the public interest by providing important communications
support to both government and the public during times of emergency
when other communications infrastructure is disabled or overburdened
and by presenting the public with an opportunity for public service,
self-training, communications and technical investigation.''

Language in the original Vermont antenna bill outlined a schedule of
minimum regulatory heights, below which localities could not impose
restrictions. That language did not survive the legislative process,
however.
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