[Icom] Wall Street Journal Article Putting Down Hams

[Dick Flanagan]

At 05:37 PM 3/24/2004, someone wrote:
 >This Wall Street Journal article about hams is so negative, it is
 >dangerous.  Something needs to be done to counteract it.

Before I close this topic I am going to post a letter sent by Ohio Section 
Manager Joe Phillips K8QUE to Jennifer Hagy N1TDY, ARRL Media Relations 
Manager.  As Joe says, "Ham Radio and the ARRL has been crying about BPL 
and its possible technical train wreck for 18 months in anonymity. Now this 
issue and our objections are anonymous no longer."

  --- Start of forwarded message ---
Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY
Manager; Media Relations
American Radio Relay League
Newington CT, 06111

Dear Jennifer;
                Congratulations to you and all others in the Newington
ARRL staff who assisted the Wall Street Journal with its Tuesday ham
radio story on page one.
                The story by Ken Brown of the WSJ staff is the breakthrough
we have been looking for in getting amateur radio's BPL objections in the
national debate. It was a major triumph for ham radio in general and the
ARRL in particular. The technical side of the BPL issue, long ignored by
the nation's media despite our efforts of 18 months, has been recognized
by a major national newspaper of record.
                This story, while some in ham radio may have problems with
some of the author's approach, was read by decision makers throughout the
United States. Now when BPL is discussed, the technical problems must be
part of that story as well as any economic developments. And the ARRL
will be part of that national debate from now on. This is a super
accomplishment.
                I have been informed that there are those who were less
than thrilled about the Wall Street Journal Story. The "quirky" line and
other comments about our numbers were not things I would have concentrated
on. But I don't care. Ham Radio and the ARRL has been crying about BPL and
its possible technical train wreck for 18 months in anonymity. Now this
issue and our objections are anonymous no longer. Tuesday they were Page
One news.
                To anyone who objects, I would please ask what page one
stories have they seen on BPL recently. All of us would have worded that
story differently. But that was the story which broke the ice and put us
into a national debate where we belong.
                Again congratulations for this accomplishment. Hams should
hold their heads high today. I feel sorry for any amateur radio operator
who may feel otherwise because of that WSJ story. These hams just do not
understand how the real world works.

Sincerely,

Joe Phillips, K8QOE
Ohio Section Manager
  --- End of forwarded message ---

This topic is now closed.

73, Dick
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner@mailman.qth.net
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