Bill Text: WV HR2 | 2024 | 2nd Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urging the federal government reach a resolution regarding National Radio Quiet Zone restrictions
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 11-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-10-06 - To House Judiciary [HR2 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2024-HR2-Introduced.html
HOUSE RESOLUTION 2
(BY Delegates Statler, Mallow, Sheedy, Summers, Phillips, Tully, Jennings, Hott, Burkhammer, Thorne, and Maynor)
[Introduced October 6, 2024; Referred
to the Committee on Government Organization. ]
To urge the federal government to reach a resolution regarding the ongoing issues with the "quiet zone" in and around Pendleton County, West Virginia and surrounding counties.
Whereas, Six West Virginia counties have joined with Pendleton County in calling for the federal government to reach a resolution regarding the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) restrictions in the region; and
Whereas, The restrictions of the NRQZ have had a significant impact on counties in and around the NRQZ; and
Whereas, The NRQZ limits the amount of power output allowed by cell phone and radio towers in the areas around two federal facilities – specifically, the National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Observatory in Pocahontas County, as well as the National Security Agency’s Sugar Grove Research Station in Pendleton County; and
Whereas, In addition to Pendleton County, Barbour, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur, and Webster Counties have also called for major changes or a total end to the NRQZ; and
Whereas, It is in the interest of the Legislature to call for the federal government to eliminate the restrictions on all public safety radio networks used by first responders; and
Whereas, First responders, volunteers, 911 personnel, and other emergency medical personnel have significant trouble calling in or responding to emergencies because of the NRQZ; and
Whereas, The importance of the missions of the two facilities is understood, but the federal government should weigh the importance of local public safety and the need for communication between first responders; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the House of Delegates of the Legislature of West Virginia does hereby urge the federal government to reach a resolution regarding the ongoing issues with the "quiet zone" in and around Pendleton County, West Virginia and surrounding counties; and, be it
Further Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the United States National Science Foundation, the National Security Agency, the Green Bank Observatory, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and West Virginia's Congressional delegation.
