[HATS] HB1148-Texas ANTI-Tower Bill

[N5IUF@aol.com]

My position (and I hope yours too) is that this bill should be shot down in 
it's entirety.  I know most of the hams are thinking about the short term 
effects and want to add an amateur "exemption" to "fix" this bill, but, even 
with an amateur "exemption," this bill is very bad for amateurs.  The 
restrictions in most cities regarding new towers, of any kind, are 
overwhelming.  In a lot of cases, companies have to locate towers in rural 
areas because cities will not allow them or places restrictions on them that 
is way beyond what is reasonable, just because they don't think they are 
"pretty."  This bill only compounds the problem and is primarily intended for 
the purpose of allowing people to bitch and moan about the aesthetics of 
towers in rural, unincorporated areas as well.  

This will only drive up communications costs and limit and delay new towers.  
This will effect amateurs, even with an amateur "exemption," by reducing 
repeater sites and potential repeater sites.  Those of you that pay a nominal 
fee (or more) for your ham repeater to be located on a commercial site can 
expect this price to go up, or even be removed, because the overall "cost of 
doing business" to put up these towers has gone up, been delayed, or denied.  

Let's keep in mind the long term effect on amateurs by this bill, even if 
they put in an amateur "exemption" in it.  Vote no to the entire bill!

Chris Hudgins
N5IUF


---
Send e-mail to 'listar@stevens.com' with subject:

  'unsubscribe hats'  to unsubscribe from this list
  'subscribe hats'    to subscribe from this list
  'help'              for more information