Session: State Capitol, Room 30 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-3873 Fax: (907) 465-3922 Interim: PO Box 1441 Wrangell, AK 99929-1441 Phone: (907) 874-2318 Fax: (907) 874-3470 50 Front Street, Suite 203 Ketchikan, AK 99901 Phone: (907) 225-8088 Fax: (907) 225-0713

Sponsor Statement for SB 78
Municipal Regulation of Radio Antennas

An Act relating to municipal regulation of radio antennas.

SB 78 is a state affirmation of a 1985 rule issued by the Federal Communications Commission entitled PRB-1. As in the federal rule, this bill simply requires that local zoning authorities reasonably accommodate the antenna needs of Amateur Radio operators. This bill is not attempting to blaze new trails. Ten states have already adopted state "PBR's", and others are in the drafting stage now. The language of this bill ensures that the minimal technical requirements to conduct amateur communications are preserved.

Our support of Amateur Radio operators in Alaska is important. Ham radio operators are valuable assets to the community. Historically, the Amateur Radio service has been at the forefront of communication technology. The concept of broadcasting began when listeners overheard amateur stations exchanging weather reports and baseball scores. The first land mobile systems were built by amateurs. Amateurs built the first single-sideband radios and the first handheld radios were built by amateurs. Present day cellular telephone technology had its origins in amateur packet radio. There is an Amateur Radio station on the International Space Station to communicate with school children.

When disaster strikes, Amateur Radio is there to assist with relief operations immediately. On Good Friday in 1954, Amateur Radio operators were there. We must admire the strength of that operator in Valdez, who was able to get on the air with damage reports and calls for aid, 15 minutes after losing his teenage son to the tsunami.

Amateur radio operators continue to practice their craft and directly support emergencies such as the Miller's Reach Fire, the Juneau/Thane Avalanche, and the Turnagain Pass Avalanche. They team with and work side by side with government agencies and officials during mass casualty and other disaster preparedness drills. They donate thousands of hours of support volunteering their time and equipment to provide communications for such public events as the Iditarod, Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, Walk for Hope, the Yukon Quest and countless others.

SB 78 would give them the ability to provide emergency and public service communications support to a wide array of customers throughout Alaska, the United States and the world when needed, typically with no notice.

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