Bill Overview
Title: Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act
Description: This bill limits the adoption and enforcement of private land use restrictions (e.g., rules of a homeowners' association) that prohibit or impair the installation, operation, or maintenance of an amateur station antenna on property controlled by an amateur radio operator.
Sponsors: Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6]
Target Audience
Population: Amateur radio operators living in properties with land use restrictions
Estimated Size: 500000
- The bill impacts amateur radio operators who require the installation of antennas at their residences.
- There are millions of amateur radio operators worldwide.
- Any amateur radio operator living in a community with homeowners' associations or other private land use restrictions will be directly impacted.
- The bill impacts operators' ability to maintain emergency communication capabilities, particularly in areas with strict land use restrictions.
Reasoning
- The policy mainly impacts amateur radio operators who live in communities with private land use restrictions. This may include a variety of demographic profiles, from retirees living in suburban HOA communities to younger tech enthusiasts in urban areas.
- The implementation cost of $10 million USD for the first year suggests that the scope of the policy is national, but it is limited by budget constraints, meaning the impact may vary greatly depending on local HOA compliance and the number of amateur radio operators in those areas.
- The policy is focused on enabling improved emergency preparedness, thus individuals highly invested in amateur radio as a means of emergency communication might see a bigger benefit.
- Given that the estimated target population in the US is 500,000, and that not all will upgrade or install antennas immediately, the impact of the policy on wellbeing will be proportional to the actual engagement with the policy changes.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Engineer (Florida)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a much-needed relief. It has been frustrating to work around HOA rules that stifle my ability to engage in amateur radio activities.
- Having an antenna for radio allows me to stay connected with emergency networks, which is vital in Florida with hurricanes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
Software Developer (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy will help in planning better setups for my hobby.
- I haven't faced much restriction since I don't focus on large antennas, but it opens up future possibilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Electrical Engineer (Texas)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might help, but I’m unsure how my apartment’s regulations will change - they are quite strict about external installations.
- In any case, it’s promising for someone at the start of their amateur radio journey.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Teacher (New York)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I really appreciate this policy since it can potentially ease some regulations.
- It’s hard to manage emergency prep involvement with all these restrictions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
IT Specialist (Illinois)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn’t really affect me because my neighborhood HOA is quite cooperative already.
- I think it’s a good measure for those who face stricter limitations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired Military Officer (Nevada)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a great initiative! It supports what many of us are trying to do in terms of local emergency preparedness.
- I have occasionally run into problems with my community rules.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Environmentalist (Oregon)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I support this policy in general, it won’t affect me much neither in my hobby nor day-to-day activities.
- Good for those facing tighter restrictions, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Civil Engineer (Virginia)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am excited about how this policy can help me get more involved in amateur radio.
- Not a critical issue for me yet, but potentially useful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Retired Educator (Arizona)
Age: 66 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is extremely beneficial to the amateur radio community.
- I really hope it will help relax the restrictions we face here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Radio Technician (Wisconsin)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is positive but doesn’t change much for me since I do not face many restrictions.
- It’ll probably help others who are lesser in the know-how and face these barriers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $10000000)
Year 5: $3000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill may face legal challenges from homeowner associations opposing federal intervention.
- There could be administrative costs related to monitoring enforcement and compliance.
- The policy could improve emergency response infrastructure by bolstering communication capabilities.