Apparently, the request for a study was part of the Act extending the 
Payroll Tax Cuts.  Here is the ARRL news story on it from February.

02/17/2012

A bill that passed both the House and the Senate today includes a provision 
for a study of the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio Service 
communications
in emergencies and disaster relief.

If passed into law, Section 6414 (see below for text) of the Middle Class 
Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 mandates the completion of the 
study,
with a report of the findings to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce 
and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. This 
study
would "use the expertise of stakeholder entities and organizations" to 
recommend how to best use radio amateurs in emergency communications and 
disaster
relief efforts, and how to best utilize the Amateur Radio Service in 
coordination with the federal government in these efforts. In addition, the 
study
would also discuss the effects of unreasonable or unnecessary private land 
use restrictions on residential antenna installations and recommend ways to
remove such impediments.

The bill passed the House with a 293-132 victory. In the Senate, it passed 
by a 60-36 vote. According to the
Los Angeles Times,
President Obama is expected to sign the bill "quickly."

Click on the link below for the complete text of the Middle Class Tax Relief 
and Job Creation Act of 2012. Section 6414 begins on page 212.

Section 6414: Study on Emergency Communications by Amateur Radio and 
Impediments to Amateur Radio Communications

list of 3 items
. (a) In General: Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Commission [FCC], in consultation with the Office of Emergency
Communications in the Department of Homeland Security, shall:
list of 2 items nesting level 1
. (1) complete a study on the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio Service 
communications in emergencies and disaster relief; and
. (2) submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate
a report on the findings of such study.
list end nesting level 1
. (b) Contents: The study required by subsection (a) shall include:
list of 2 items nesting level 1
. (1)(A) a review of the importance of emergency Amateur Radio Service 
communications relating to disasters, severe weather, and other threats to 
lives
and property in the United States; and
list of 1 items nesting level 2
. (B) recommendations for:
list of 2 items nesting level 3
. (i) enhancements in the voluntary deployment of Amateur Radio operators in 
disaster and emergency communications and disaster relief efforts; and
. (ii) improved integration of Amateur Radio operators in the planning and 
furtherance of initiatives of the Federal Government; and
list end nesting level 3
list end nesting level 2
. (2)(A) an identification of impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio Service 
communications, such as the effects of unreasonable or unnecessary private 
land
use restrictions on residential antenna installations; and
list of 1 items nesting level 2
. (B) recommendations regarding the removal of such impediments.
list end nesting level 2
list end nesting level 1
. (c) Expertise: In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the 
Commission shall use the expertise of stakeholder entities and 
organizations, including
the Amateur Radio, emergency response, and disaster communications 
communities.
list end

Tum podem extulit horridulum

Steve
Lansing, MI