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I did not put an words in his mouth. He did not really say anything, except to try and politely dismiss the idea that the Feds should be concerned about Hamm radio and apparently this cabal of hamm operators are.

What do they want????A check!!!!

Romney did not diss hamm radio. He simply did not see ow it was relevant to the Federal government who is not resposible for the Communications systems of any State or locality.

After 9/11, the spending spree included moneys for States to use in what ever way they chose to improve communications and first response, largely because they were forced to by Congress as they spent billions.

None of this will be repeated, if I have anything to say about it, and most conservatives understand where the lines are. I know Romney does.

So I was not putting words in his mouth. I am trying to state the obvious, at least to me.

Somehow federalism has gone out the window for some. Not I. Romney would have no comments either for of against something the Federal government has no business in except to the extent that the FCC regulates currently. The FCC does not tell a State what it must have, nor how to do it.

Nor should it.

"Romney is saying simply that Ham Radio should remain free and unencumbered"

This is putting words into his mouth. Where was that stated?

My mother was a reading specialist and a pioneer in the field. What am I missing here? How does disaster preparedness, FEMA, etc., not actively involve Amateur Radio Operator's contributions and not actively involve the Federal Government's recognition of that contribution? There is nothing said about regulation, however the involvement of Amateur Radio's contribution to emergency communications is dismissed.

"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.

“He simply did not see ow it was relevant to the Federal government”

FEMA and several other agencies actually have ham radio as an official part of disaster planning. State level planners do too. I suspect the former Governor knows this, hence his speedy dismissal rather than a blank stare and a Who?

Somehow federalism has gone out the window for some. Not I. Romney would have no comments either for of against something the Federal government has no business in except to the extent that the FCC regulates currently. The FCC does not tell a State what it must have, nor how to do it.

Subpart E -- Providing Emergency Communications and it begins with:

§97.401 Operation during a disaster

And in particular:

§97.407 Radio amateur civil emergency service