[NCC] PRB-1 Expansion

[ray.fallen]

Dear Ms. Craigie:

I watched with great interest your appeal to the ham radio community
regarding support for the extension of the PRB-1 reasonable accommodation
rules the FCC established over 30 years ago.  While I find that rule to be
reasonable and justified, I cannot in good conscience support extending the
provisions of PRB-1 to deed restricted areas.

First and foremost, every ham living in an antenna restricted area was made
aware of those restrictions when he or she purchased their property.
Nobody held a gun to their head and made them sign that contract.  I own
property in The Villages, Florida.  Restrictions against outside antennas
and other restrictions established to preserve the value of my investment
were made abundantly clear to me, when I purchased the property.  I rely on
those restrictions and the sanctity of that contract, as do my neighbors.

It is no more fair or reasonable to ask Congress to nullify those
restrictions through legislation than it would be to ask Congress to
nullify deed restrictions or homeowner's association rules concerning
property maintenance, the establishment of an in-home business or for that
matter, raising pigs in the front yard.

It is obvious that these deed restrictions do NOT pose a great threat to
the hobby.  If, as you say, there are more and more areas covered by deed
restrictions, how can it be that there are more amateur licenses in the
United States than at any other time in the history of the sport?
Bloviation of this sort, while it stirs up the faithful, does not support
your wobbly case.

Your problem is this: antennas and towers are ugly and if improperly
installed, potentially dangerous.  If I weren't a ham, I really wouldn't
want to live next to a neighbor with an 80 foot tower in his front
yard...especially if I have a significant investment in my home and
property.  All that being said, I do have a 50 foot crank up tower and quad
at my non-deed restricted home in Ohio.  But it's in the rear of the
property and made intentionally difficult to see from the front of the
house.  Not all hams are that considerate of their neighbors.

Asking Congress to trample on the rights of property owners (and yes, they
have rights, too), is just plain bad PR for the hobby.  While I don't
expect you to agree with any of the above, just be aware of the hornet's
nest you are poking.  Just about everybody's largest single investment is
their home.  You just don't want to mess with that, now, do you?

Sincerely,
Ray Fallen - ND8L
DXCC Honor Roll-Mixed
5BDXCC