The State Government Liaison (SGL) is an Amateur Radio operator who is cognizant of state legislative and regulatory proposals in the normal course of events and who can monitor and respond appropriately to those proposals having the potential to affect Amateur Radio. This is an active, responsive mission, not merely a passive, “stand by the sidelines and watch” function.
Requirements: Full ARRL membership
Responsibilities:
- Collects and promulgates information on state legislation and regulation affecting Amateur Radio and works closely with Clubs and the Section Manager(s) in assuring that the laws work to the mutual benefit of society and the Amateur Radio Service. The importance of working closely with clubs (the critically-important local representatives of Amateur Radio), and ARRL Section Managers, cannot be overemphasized. Keep in close contact with your clubs and SMs!
- Guides, encourages and supports individual radio amateurs and clubs in representing the interests of the Amateur Radio Service at all levels, including the federal level, when needed and coordinated with the ARRL Headquarters. The active SGL also cooperates closely with other section-level officials, particularly the Section Emergency Coordinator and the Public Information Coordinator.
- Reports directly to the Section Manager regularly and also keeps ARRL Headquarters informed of all appropriate activities and developments involving the interface of Amateur Radio and government legislative or regulatory matters, particularly those with policy implications. Ideally, the SGL will have access to, or a relationship with, the bill room at the state capitol in order to examine legislation as it is introduced. It is also helpful for the SGL to monitor the dockets of relevant state agencies such as the department of environmental protection, which might promulgate regulations affecting Amateur Radio. In addition, the SGL will monitor the news for stories of regulatory or legislative initiatives.
- When monitoring and responding to state issues, SGLs should watch for key words that could affect Amateur Radio. Antennas (dish, microwave, PCS, cellular, towers, structures, satellite, television, lighting), Mobile radio, radio receivers, radio interference, television interference, scanners, license plates, cable television, ham radio, headphones in automobiles, lightning protection, antenna radiation, biological effects of radio signals are a few of the examples of what to look for.
- In those states where there is more than one section, the Section Managers whose territories do not encompass the state capital may simply defer to the Liaison appointed by their counterpart in the section where the state capital is located. In this case, the Liaison is expected to communicate equally with all Section Managers (and Section Emergency Coordinators and other section-level League officials). In sections where there is more than one government entity (i.e., Maryland-DC and Pacific) there may be a Liaison appointed for each entity.
- The job of heading off potentially undesirable state government actions is critically important to the Amateur Radio community! Be active and responsive, and above all, work closely with your clubs, Section Managers, and ARRL Headquarters.
Recruitment of new radio amateurs and ARRL members is an integral part of the job of every ARRL appointee. Appointees should take advantage of every opportunity to recruit a new radio amateur or member to foster growth of Field Organization programs, and our abilities to serve the public.