ABATE of ARIZONA
American Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education
ALL BIKES, ALL RIDERS, A.B.A.T.E. Works for You!
Last week the Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 on a controversial measure that opens up spectrum band previously reserved solely for automakers. Spectrum is the range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used to transmit sound, data, and video across the country. For over 20 years a specific band of spectrum was reserved for automotive safety. The hope being that automakers would develop technology allowing cars to communicate with one another, thus creating safer roadways.
The fight surrounding the allocation of this spectrum pitted cable companies like Comcast on one side vs automakers and the U.S. Department of Transportation on the other.
U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee chairman, Peter DeFazio, called the decision “a gift to corporate interests at the expense of public safety,” adding it “will undermine decades of development and over a billion public dollars that the transportation community has invested in these technologies.”
The purpose of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is to be an independent, national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle. To accomplish this in the most fiscally responsible manner, the MRF has taken the following actions.
We have renewed our agreement with Husch Blackwell Strategies LLC for an additional year for them to act as our governmental affairs consultants. We will continue to be represented by registered lobbyist, William (Rocky) Fox.
We have also renewed our contract with JPK Services to provide administrative and office management services to the MRF.
We have entered into an agreement with DB Services to provide editorial oversight and publication services for the American Bikers Journal, our printed and electronic bi-monthly magazine.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has long partnered with the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) in the European Union. This week FEMA alerted the MRF to potential changes regarding end-of-life vehicle directives that could have a dramatic impact on European motorcyclists.
MRF President Kirk “Hardtail” Willard stated, “Policy ideas that first appear in Europe have a history of popping up in the United States. The ability to own, collect, work on, and refurbish older motorcycles is a fundamental part of who we are as motorcyclists. We stand side by side with FEMA in their battle to protect motorcycle owners from changes to the end-of-life vehicle rules in Europe.”
Wim Taal, FEMA’s communications officer said, “Inclusion of motorcycles in the scope of the directive could also mean a serious threat to historical motorcycles. These bikes are especially dependent upon available and affordable original spare parts to keep them in working order. And who wants to see old-timers disappear into state approved demolishing facilities?”
As votes continue to be counted and races decided here is an update on how some of our champions and allies fared on election day.
MRF Legislative Champions: