FINAL BILL REPORT

                            SB 5697

                           C 50 L 94

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Preempting local regulation of amateur radios.

SPONSORS: Senator Bluechel

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

BACKGROUND:

Amateur radio operators seeking to erect antenna and support systems are often frustrated or delayed by restrictive local zoning ordinances.  While local government actions have been partially preempted by the Federal Communications Commission, amateur radio operators seek to avoid time, expense, and delay challenging local actions that fail to conform to FCC policy.

SUMMARY:

No city, town, code city, or county shall enact or enforce regulations that fail to conform to the Federal Communications Commission's limited preemption statement, "Amateur Radio Preemption," 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985).  Regulations involving placement, screening, or height of antennas shall be crafted to reasonably accommodate amateur communications, and shall represent the minimal practicable regulation to accomplish local governments' health, safety, and aesthetic concerns.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    42   5

House     97   0

EFFECTIVE:March 23, 1994