Pennsylvania Becomes 27th State with PRB-1 Law on Books
On Wednesday, October 8, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell (D)
signed into law a bill that guarantees radio amateurs the right to erect
antenna support structures up to 65 feet without the need for a Special
Use Permit. The bill passed in the House with a vote of 196-1; it passed
in the Senate with a vote of 49-1. The new law is scheduled to go into
effect December 8, 60 days after signing.
Senate Bill 884 (now Act 88), An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities
Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Restricting
Municipalities from Regulating Amateur Radio Service Communications, was
first introduced on June 1, 2007 by Pennsylvania Senator Stewart J.
Greenleaf (R) who represents portions of Bucks and Montgomery Counties.
The bill requires local municipalities to "reasonably accommodate
amateur radio service communications, and [to] impose only the minimum
regulations necessary to accomplish the legitimate purpose of the
municipality" and says that "[n]o ordinance, regulation, plan or any
other action shall restrict amateur radio antenna height to less than 65
feet above ground level, [but a] municipality may impose necessary
regulations to ensure the safety of amateur radio antenna structures,
but must reasonably accommodate amateur service communications."
The driving force behind the bill's passage was George Brechmann, N3HBT,
of Warminster. "We didn't have a PRB-1 law and I just got tired of
people telling me it couldn't be done," he told the ARRL. "So I called
up my senator's local office and told them what I wanted. They referred
it to his Harrisburg office and a while later, I got a call from Senator
Geeenleaf's executive assistant Eric Pauley wanting more information."
Brechmann said the bill was stuck in committee "for the longest time,
with lots of back-and-forth. Fortunately, they were able to reach a
compromise with the help of the League and its General Counsel Chris
Imlay, W3KD. This act even encompasses the urban areas of Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh, so now every ham in the commonwealth can get a tower."
Brechmann, who has a 60 foot crank-up tower in his backyard, says he has
no plans to get a taller antenna support structure.
Brechmann said he found out about the bill's passing in the most
appropriate of ways -- on the radio. "I'm the trustee at the club
station, K3DN, at our senior center; we have about 130 members there. I
went over on Tuesday evening to unlock the doors and get the rigs going,
when my wife Elaine, N3TMP, called me to tell me the bill had passed the
House. Five minutes later, she called me again to tell me it had passed
the Senate! And now the governor signed it as soon as it reached his
desk."
Saying that getting this bill passed is his "little contribution to
posterity," Brechmann said he is glad to be able to do something good
for the amateur community "because they have been so very good to me.
I'm blind, and Amateur Radio has been a very large part of my life."
Brechmann stays active ragchewing on 15 meters "and 10 when it's open,"
as well as serving as Net Control and coordinating his township's public
service events.
ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Eric Olena, WB3FPL, said he
was "thrilled" with the bill's passage: "The Pennsylvania Legislature
showed overwhelming support of Amateur Radio [by passing this bill].
This legislation started by George and coordinated with Senator
Greenleaf and Representative Kathy Watson (R), and Pennsylvania hams
made an outstanding effort contacting their senators and
representatives. By seeking their support, they really helped with the
success of this legislation. The effort by all hams throughout the
country to foster Amateur Radio as an effective communications method in
emergencies did much to highlight a valued reputation for Amateur Radio,
and without a doubt, had an effect on these proceedings."