Official Bill Info

• Latest Action: Feb 28, 2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

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  I know the most recent action for this bill is as follows: "Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology." on Feb 28, 2011
• Committee Assignment: House Energy and Commerce

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce committee.
• Committee Assignment: House Energy and Commerce - Communications, Technology, and the Internet

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce - Communications, Technology, and the Internet committee.

Bill Statistics on OpenCongress

Contribution Data

Opposing Organizations

• National Association for Amateur Radio

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  I know that the organization National Association for Amateur Radio opposes H.R.607

Most-commented sections of the bill text

• (1) AUCTION- Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the paired electromagnetic spectrum bands of 420-440 megahertz and 450-470 megahertz recovered as a result of the report and order required under subsection (c) shall be auctioned off by the Federal Communications Commission through a system of competitive bidding meeting the requirements of section 309 of the Communications Act of 1934. (3 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "(1) AUCTION- Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the paired electromagnetic spectrum bands of 420-440 megahertz and 450-470 megahertz recovered as a result of the report and order required under subsection (c) shall be auctioned off by the Federal Communications Commission through a system of competitive bidding meeting the requirements of section 309 of the Communications Act of 1934.",

Highest Rated User Comments

• On February 24, 2011, by wk1h - Here is a listing for just Southern California showing hundreds of 440 MHz amateur repeaters in use: http://rptrlist.w6jpl.ampr.org/440.htm Most are owned by large groups, not just 2,3. Their use for emergency communications isn’t like a cordless phone but more as a wide area coverage information sharing network with dozens of stations. Numerous radio amateurs provide emergency communications as shown during 9/11, Katrina, Haiti, etc. Amateur radio uses both old and new technologies. In some situations one technology or another is inadequate. Luckily amateur radio may use almost any technology to get messages through. Many public safety officials (police, fire dept, CERT, Red Cross, Hospitals, EMT, Search and Rescue, etc.) maintain teams of amateur radio operators to help them. By law amateur radio operators can’t charge for the use of their radio services, so these services are all free. This bill will harm these volunteer services provided to public safety and the general public.

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  As noted by wk1h, a user on OpenCongress.org, on February 24, 2011, "Here is a listing for just Southern California showing hundreds of 440 MHz amateur repeaters in use: http://rptrlist.w6jpl.ampr.org/440.htm Most are owned by large groups, not just 2,3. Their use for emergency communications isn’t like a cordless phone but more as a wide area coverage information sharing network with dozens of stations. Numerous radio amateurs provide emergency communications as shown during 9/11, Katrina, Haiti, etc. Amateur radio uses both old and new technologies. In some situations one technology or another is inadequate. Luckily amateur radio may use almost any technology to get messages through. Many public safety officials (police, fire dept, CERT, Red Cross, Hospitals, EMT, Search and Rescue, etc.) maintain teams of amateur radio operators to help them. By law amateur radio operators can’t charge for the use of their radio services, so these services are all free. This bill will harm these volunteer services provided to public safety and the general public."
• On February 26, 2011, by arcaneradio - Not true that Ham Radio has more spectrum than cellular combined. Most the bandwidth used by Ham Radio is shared with other commercial broadcasting. Ham Radio is limited by power output. The actual slivers of bandwidth allocated to just Ham Radio are minuscule in comparison to what the Telecom companies own (Yes including cellular) Most of the available frequency bandwidth is allocated to either commercial or government use. What about the old TV beachfront bandwidth that they were selling off to the highest bidder? Surely they should reserved some it for emergency use. Check your facts don't make them up.

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  As noted by arcaneradio, a user on OpenCongress.org, on February 26, 2011, "Not true that Ham Radio has more spectrum than cellular combined. Most the bandwidth used by Ham Radio is shared with other commercial broadcasting. Ham Radio is limited by power output. The actual slivers of bandwidth allocated to just Ham Radio are minuscule in comparison to what the Telecom companies own (Yes including cellular) Most of the available frequency bandwidth is allocated to either commercial or government use. What about the old TV beachfront bandwidth that they were selling off to the highest bidder? Surely they should reserved some it for emergency use. Check your facts don't make them up."
• On February 23, 2011, by orange92865 - I have heard many of the ham radio operators are opposing this bill, because they claim benefit emmergency communication, but in true fact is the spectrum this bill is intending to convert is not used for emergency communication by most of ham radio operators. they are used by small group of 2,3 ham radio operators as private repeaters, such as use them as long distance cordless phone, video link, and due to their older technology they are taking up very valuable resource. Those frequencies and spectrum would be better used and serve public benefit if they are used by police, fire dept, CERT, Red Cross, Hospitals, EMT, Search and Rescue, etc. Ham Radio have more spectrum than all of the cellular phone companies in US togther ? and cell phone companies pays billions of $ to US treasurely for right to use them. Ham Radio frequency were allocated 50 years ago, when there were no cell phones and no internets, and most of wireless communication was done using morse code with tube radio.

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  As noted by orange92865, a user on OpenCongress.org, on February 23, 2011, "I have heard many of the ham radio operators are opposing this bill, because they claim benefit emmergency communication, but in true fact is the spectrum this bill is intending to convert is not used for emergency communication by most of ham radio operators. they are used by small group of 2,3 ham radio operators as private repeaters, such as use them as long distance cordless phone, video link, and due to their older technology they are taking up very valuable resource. Those frequencies and spectrum would be better used and serve public benefit if they are used by police, fire dept, CERT, Red Cross, Hospitals, EMT, Search and Rescue, etc. Ham Radio have more spectrum than all of the cellular phone companies in US togther ? and cell phone companies pays billions of $ to US treasurely for right to use them. Ham Radio frequency were allocated 50 years ago, when there were no cell phones and no internets, and most of wireless communication was done using morse code with tube radio."

Highly Rated Blog Articles

• ITAR and Amateur Radio – Progress Report | AMSAT-UK - April 29, 2012 by M5AKA - Peter's appointment was based in part on his success in leading a delegation to meet with Congressman Peter King on H.R. 607 in 2011 that resulted in the amendment of that bill to protect the amateur and amateur satellite ...

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  As noted by M5AKA on April 29, 2012, "Peter's appointment was based in part on his success in leading a delegation to meet with Congressman Peter King on H.R. 607 in 2011 that resulted in the amendment of that bill to protect the amateur and amateur satellite ..." (/url?q=http://www.uk.amsat.org/6865&sa=U&ei=Xb-8T8zGLqb9sQLduq0t&ved=0CE0QmAEwCA&usg=AFQjCNFiEdG42MqEPy3v03jomsbljWkbYA)
• ITAR and Amateur Radio – Progress Report | AMSAT-UK - April 29, 2012 by M5AKA - Peter's appointment was based in part on his success in leading a delegation to meet with Congressman Peter King on H.R. 607 in 2011 that resulted in the amendment of that bill to protect the amateur and amateur satellite ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by M5AKA on April 29, 2012, "Peter's appointment was based in part on his success in leading a delegation to meet with Congressman Peter King on H.R. 607 in 2011 that resulted in the amendment of that bill to protect the amateur and amateur satellite ..." (/url?q=http://www.uk.amsat.org/6865&sa=U&ei=7-e0T92wL5So8ASUoNHaDw&ved=0CEkQmAEwBw&usg=AFQjCNEk_OhBWDYfJ4tuS9O29W9cDhFGXQ)
• ITAR and Amateur Radio – Progress Report | AMSAT-UK - April 29, 2012 by M5AKA - Peter's appointment was based in part on his success in leading a delegation to meet with Congressman Peter King on H.R. 607 in 2011 that resulted in the amendment of that bill to protect the amateur and amateur satellite ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by M5AKA on April 29, 2012, "Peter's appointment was based in part on his success in leading a delegation to meet with Congressman Peter King on H.R. 607 in 2011 that resulted in the amendment of that bill to protect the amateur and amateur satellite ..." (/url?q=http://www.uk.amsat.org/6865&sa=U&ei=ng-yT8DNIoi09QTh6bnRCA&ved=0CEAQmAEwBQ&usg=AFQjCNGRwPQxbrtCK0Hg9CUaKUPrqYd8zg)

Highly Rated News Articles

• 2011 ARRL Annual Report Now Available - June 15, 2012 by ARRL AMATEUR RADIO - Calling HR 607 “the first domestic threat to Amateur Radio spectrum privileges on a popular band, in this case, 420-440 MHz, in many years,” ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, recalled how the ARRL and its grassroots network helped lead the charge to ..

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  As noted by ARRL AMATEUR RADIO on June 15, 2012, "Calling HR 607 “the first domestic threat to Amateur Radio spectrum privileges on a popular band, in this case, 420-440 MHz, in many years,” ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, recalled how the ARRL and its grassroots network helped lead the charge to .." (http://www.arrl.org/news/view/2011-arrl-annual-report-now-available)
• KING STATEMENT ON HOUSE-SENATE PAYROLL TAX AGREEMENT PROVISION TO REALLOCATE D BLOCK TO PUBLIC SAFETY - February 16, 2012 by FireEngineering.com - Last year, he, along with Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and five other original co-sponsors, introduced H.R. 607 and convened a Homeland Security Committee hearing to examine this critical issue. The bipartisan legislation ...

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  As noted by FireEngineering.com on February 16, 2012, "Last year, he, along with Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and five other original co-sponsors, introduced H.R. 607 and convened a Homeland Security Committee hearing to examine this critical issue. The bipartisan legislation ..." (http://www.fireengineering.com/news/2012/02/16/king-statement-on-house-senate-payroll-tax-agreement-provision-to-reallocate-d-block-to-public-safet.html)
• Take A Virtual Tour of W1AW on February 12: - February 09, 2012 by eHam.net - Pitts is producing the live web tour. This is the second video that the New Day Group has made for the ARRL. In 2011, they created the HR 607 video http://www.arrl.org/hr-607 that educated radio amateurs of a bill in Congress that addressed certain ...

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  As noted by eHam.net on February 09, 2012, "Pitts is producing the live web tour. This is the second video that the New Day Group has made for the ARRL. In 2011, they created the HR 607 video http://www.arrl.org/hr-607 that educated radio amateurs of a bill in Congress that addressed certain ..." (http://www.eham.net/articles/27682)