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0 <br />readily available backup network. In this situation, we believe it Is <br />appropriate to stlke a balance between the federal interest In promoting <br />amateur operations and the legitimate interests of local governments <br />in regulating local zoning matters. The cornerstone on which we will <br />predicate our decision is that a reasonable accommodation may be made <br />between the two sides. <br />23. Preemption is primarily a function of the extent of the conflict <br />between federal and state and local regulation. Thus, In considering <br />whether our regulations or policies can tol(-n+e a state regulation, we <br />may consider such facto-s as tl)e severlty I conflict and the reasons <br />underlying the staters regulations. In th dgard, we have previously <br />recognized the legitimate and Important sta-. Interests reflected In local <br />zoning regulations. For example, in Earth Satellite Communications, Inc., <br />95 FCC 2d 1223 (1983), we recognized that <br />. . countervailing state interests inhere in <br />the present situation . . . For example, ve do <br />not wish to preclude a state or locality from <br />exercising jurisdiction over certain elements of <br />an SMATV operation that properly may fall within <br />its authority, such as zoning or DUb!Ic safety <br />and health, provided the regulation In question is <br />not undertaken as a pretext for the actual purpose <br />of frustrating achievement of the preeminent <br />federal objective and so long as the non-federal <br />regulation is applied In a nondiscriminatory manner. <br />24. Similarly, we recognize here that there are certain general <br />state and local interests which may, in their even-handed application, <br />legitimately affect amateur radio facilities. Nonetheless, there Is <br />also a strong federal interest Ii, promoting amateur communications. <br />Evidence of this interest may be found in the comprehensive set of rules <br />that the Commission has adopted to regulate the amateur servize.S Those <br />rules set forth, procedures for the Ilcensing of stations and operators, <br />frequency allocations, technical standards which amateur radio equipment <br />must meet and operating practices which amateur operators must follow. <br />We recognize the Amateur radio service as a voluntary, noncomerclal <br />communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency <br />communications. Moreover, the amateur radio service provides a reservoir <br />of trained operators, technicians and electron lc experts who can be called <br />on in times of national or local emergencies. By Its nature, the Amateur <br />Radio Service also provides the opportunity for Individual operators <br />to further international goodwill. Upon weighing these interests, we <br />5 47 CFR Part 97. <br />