Dan,
Great news. Unfortunately it actually specifies "_commercial_ communications satellites and related components. We MIGHT be covered under the "and related components" clause, but adding "and educational and non-profit" would be better. No doubt there is a phrase which would be more exact. It should be fairly easy to get us covered if the sponsors are contacted by AMSAT and constituents. Fingers crossed.
Alan WA4SCA
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Daniel Schultz Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2011 6:17 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] HR3288 - end of the ITAR nightmare?
There is a bill before the US House of Representatives that would give the President authority to remove communications satellites and related components from the Munitions List. This would free up commercial and amateur satellite builders to once again interact with our foreign colleagues.
ITAR regulations have caused irreparable harm to Amsat and have severely restricted our ability to interact with our foreign colleagues. If you live in the USA and want to help Amsat launch new satellites, contact your congressman and ask him/her to support or possibly cosponsor HR3288, known as the `Safeguarding United States Satellite Leadership and Security Act of 2011'. You can locate your congressman's office on http://www.house.gov.
This information comes from: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2011/will_hr_3288end_itars_chokehol d_on_space_exploration.htm
Dan Schultz N8FGV
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