[HATS] Texas Tower HB1148 Public Hearing Outcome

[N5IUF@aol.com]

For those of you in Texas who are interested...The rest of you, thanks for 
putting up with these postings.  This could happen in your state.

I went to the Public hearing in Austin to voice objections on this bill.  
This hearing pretty much was World War III between those who don't think cell 
phone towers are "pretty" and the best Lawyers and Engineers AT&T Wireless, 
Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless, American Tower, etc., could hire. 

To make a long story short, there was so much objection to this, and the 
corporate Lawyers and Engineers did such a good job, this bill is pretty much 
no more.  The Amateur community bombarded the House Committee with calls, 
letters, and e-mails to see to it that they were exempt.  In fact, the 
Committee Chairman asked one of the amateur radio operators present to 
"please get on the radio and tell all of the Hams that they are now exempt."  

The bill has been rewritten and severely "watered down."  All amateur and 
noncommercial antenna's are completely exempt now, and all commercial new 
towers must only "notify" neighbors about the tower to be constructed and 
give contact information.  There is no permit or approval process for any 
towers, only notification.  This only applies to rural, unincorporated areas. 
 City restrictions will remain as is, but are not incorporated into this 
revised bill.

Even with this bill watered down as it is, it may not be passed.  The 
committee did not appear supportive of it, and didn't approve it and send it 
to the floor, like they did most of the bills in this hearing, but merely 
tabled it for later.

This is a big victory for tower owners and amateurs.

Chris Hudgins
N5IUF


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