SB QST @ ARRL $ARLB090
ARLB090 Amateur bill in congress
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 90  ARLB090
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  August 20, 1993
To all radio amateurs

Through ARRL efforts a bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives, H.R. 2623, that would amend the communications act
of 1934 to "facilitate utilization of volunteer resources on behalf
of the Amateur Radio Service."

The League in seeking the legislation said that many amateurs are
reluctant to participate in volunteer programs such as the Amateur
Auxiliary of the FCC's Field Operations Bureau, the volunteer
examiner program, and the yet-to-be implemented volunteer club and
military recreation station call sign administration program.

The League said that volunteer monitors face the prospect of being
accused of bias or other motives, and that volunteer examiners may
fear being blamed by an examinee for failure to pass a test.

The legislation is needed, the League believes, to eliminate an
obstacle to volunteer participation in these programs, as well as to
prevent civil actions against good-faith volunteers.

The act is referred to as the Amateur Radio Volunteer Services Act
of 1993.  The legislation was introduced by Congressman Jim Slattery
(D-KS).  Initial co-sponsors were Reps. Dan Glickman (D-KS), Dennis
Hastert (R-IL); Mike Kreidler (D-WA); Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Jolene
Unsoeld (D-WA); and Peter Deutsch (D-FL).
/EX
