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 Romney 'Disses' Amateur Radio
Amateur Radio News Wednesday 16 November 2005 @ 15:48:10 | Eastern Massachusetts ARRL



Romney 'Disses' Amateur Radio In Televised Town Meeting Posted on Wednesday16 November 2005 @ 15:48:10

Governor Mitt Romney dismissed the role of Amateur Radio operators in emergency communications
during a televised 'town meeting' program last night on WCVB's 'When Disaster Strikes: Segment Two.'
The program featured public safety and volunteer organization officials from across Massachusetts
among its audience.

Host and moderator Natalie Jacobson asked an increasingly-agitated Governor Romney questions about
communications interoperability, and communication without commercial power. Romney was next asked
by Jacobson, '...so does it come down to ham radio?...'

The Governor replied in a disgusted tone, 'No, we don't need to deal with ham radio operators...'

Embarrassed public safety officials later tried to put in a good word for Amateur Radio. National
Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Glenn Field was prepared to state the importance
of Amateur Radio, when Salvation Army Colonel Fred Van Brunt was called upon. Van Brunt remarked
about his organization's quest to improve its communications capabilities and how Amateur Radio has
aided his organization. 'The ham radio situation helps a great deal,' he stated.

'I have already written and submitted a letter to the Governor's Office,' wrote Eastern MA Section
Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. 'I have also written an email to Natalie Jacobson.'

ARRL Section Manager Mike Neilsen, W1MPN sent a section-wide email today to all Eastern MA ARRL
members describing the incident along with actions he and his staff were taking to mitigate the
situation.

'[Romney's] attitude about us sets an unfortunate tone within the state's executive branch,' wrote
Neilsen. 'As a former military officer, I see this as a failure in leadership. My immediate concern
is our working relationship within the [Massachusetts Emergency Management Team] environment.'
Neilsen intends to address the Governor's comments as 'an urgent matter' at a meeting on November 17
with Don Carlton from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

'I was very disturbed about what the Governor stated on the program,' wrote Ron Wood, W1PLW, the
section's Public Information Coordinator. 'It does show that more work is needed by all hams in the
section. It's a great idea to write letters explaining the good we do.' Wood is attempting to
schedule a meeting with the Governor's office tomorrow so that EMA ARRL staffers might discuss the
matter further.

Tom Kinahan, N1CPE wrote that Governor Romney's comment has made 'a PR problem' for Kinahan in his
role as MA State RACES Officer.

'I've got a roster of over 150 Amateur Radio operators that support local communities, and those of
us that directly support the state government. There are at least double that in terms of people
that are actually out there that I don't have formal paperwork on that support Amateur Radio
emergency communications in some organized manner... The Governor has said that he 'certainly
doesn't need to rely on ham radio' -- where does that leave the RACES program now?'

'I am ashamed tonight that I am a Republican!' remarked one ham radio viewer. '[Romney] speaks in
derogatory tones about hams. He certainly shows an ignorance as to what we do and are capable of. I
suggest a grass roots campaign of local hams calling the State House and The Governor's Office to
protest.'
Posted by N6AQ Friday, January 18, 2008 (14:56:33)
[ Administration ]

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