[TowerTalk] CB case

[Tom Frenaye]

>Someone posted:
>James A. Disbennet, 48, 427 Harrison Ave., is charged with operating a CB
>radio exceeding 4 watts, a first-degree misdemeanor, and two counts of
>operating a CB radio without certification, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
>Disbennet, whose handle is "Sugar Bear," answered a summons in Fairfield
>County Municipal Court last Tuesday and was released on a recognizance bond.

Here's probably why the town acted:


>SB QST @ ARL $ARLB033
>ARLB033 Local CB enforcement bill passes Senate
>
>ZCZC AG33
>QST de W1AW
>ARRL Bulletin 33  ARLB033
> From ARRL Headquarters
>Newington CT  May 14, 1998
>To all radio amateurs
>
>SB QST ARL ARLB033
>ARLB033 Local CB enforcement bill passes Senate
>
>A bill giving state and local governments the power to enforce
>federal regulations covering illegal CB transmitters has passed the
>US Senate.  Senate Bill 608, introduced by Wisconsin Sen Russell
>Feingold, was incorporated as an amendment into S 1618, the Consumer
>Anti-Slamming Act, approved May 12 on a 99-to-1 vote (Sen Biden not
>voting).  The measure, as redrafted from the original bill with
>assistance from the ARRL, totally exempts Amateur Radio from its
>provisions.
>
>The measure requires the FCC to provide technical guidance and
>includes an appeals process.
>
>It's not yet known if or when the entire bill will come up for a
>vote in the House of Representatives.
>
>In remarks read into the Congressional Record of May 12, Feingold
>spoke about his cooperation with the ARRL and with hams in Wisconsin
>and said the amendment incorporates a number of provisions suggested
>by the League.
>
>''First, the amendment makes clear that the limited enforcement
>authority provided to localities in no way diminishes or affects
>FCC's exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of radio,'' he said.
>
>''Second, the amendment clarifies that the possession of an FCC
>license to operate a radio service for the operation at issue, such
>as an amateur station, is complete protection against any local law
>enforcement action authorized by this amendment.''
>
>Feingold pointed out Amateur Radio's tradition as a self-regulatory
>service.  ''The ARRL is very involved in resolving interference
>concerns both among their own members and between ham operators and
>residents experiencing problems,'' he said.
>
>Feingold introduced his original version of the bill nearly two
>years ago after receiving complaints from constituents about
>interference from illegal CB transmitters.  In 1996, the City of
>Beloit, Wisconsin, passed an ordinance giving the city the power to
>enforce FCC regulations concerning CB interference.
>NNNN
>/EX

=====
e-mail: frenaye at pcnet.com
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444