To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the application of certain private land use restrictions to amateur station antennas, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · January 30, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act prohibits homeowners associations, condo associations, and other private organizations from enforcing rules that prevent amateur radio operators from installing and maintaining outdoor antennas on residential property they own or lease. The bill protects over 770,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the United States by allowing them to install essential communications equipment needed for emergency response without facing restrictions from private land use covenants or community association rules. The legislation still permits reasonable requirements, such as ensuring antennas comply with manufacturer specifications and building codes, requiring them to be structurally safe, and visually screening ground-mounted equipment in certain locations. It also exempts specific antenna types under one meter in diameter, flagpole antennas up to 43 feet tall, wire antennas, and vertical antennas from prior approval requirements. The Federal Communications Commission has 180 days from enactment to issue implementing regulations, and the bill allows amateur operators to sue in federal court if their rights are violated without having to first pursue state legal remedies.
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