House Action on Amateur Radio Parity Act Delayed by "Sit-In"

A "sit-in" by House Democrats in late June to demand a vote on bills related to gun violence  resulted in a delay in committee action on HR 1301, the Amateur Radio Parity Act, which would assure hams in antenna-restricted private housing developments the right to get on the air with an outdoor antenna. 

The bill had been scheduled for a "markup" by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee on June 23 – at which time amended language agreed to by the ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (which represents homeowners' associations) was slated to be introduced – but action was delayed until July due to Speaker Paul Ryan's decision to call an early start to the House's Fourth of July recess in order to end the protest on the House floor. 

At press time, no specific date had been set for the re-scheduled markup session. (See story below for more on HR 1301 and the amended language.)