U.S. Congressional Legislation: Communications

A bill (S. 1755) that would require the Department of Homeland Security to study the use of amateur radio operations during emergencies has been approved by the Senate and is now pending in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The bill would require that the DHS report to Congress on the use of amateur radio communications in emergencies and disaster relief. The report would include an analysis of the use of such radio communications to further the homeland security mission during disasters, severe weather, and other threats. The report would also include strategies for deploying amateur radio operators and how those operators could be integrated into DHS initiatives.