The expressed view that - no quantitative conclusions can be made that represent the full range of those in the hobby, or even in the ARRL - would seem logical. However, there was no conclusion made only from the Visalia poll on HOA-impacted Amateurs alone.
Note the statement at the end of item 1) - This mirrors my experience at most Forums, where all or mostly all HOA-located hams are on the air - somehow.
To elaborate further -
At the 2019 Southwestern Division Convention in Yuma, with approximately 60 attendees, 12 responded that they lived in HOA-impacted areas. 12 said they were on the air. 100%. The convention took place at the same time as the ARRL CW DX Contest, and no DXers or contesters are believed to have been present at the Forum.
At the 2019 Quartzfest Forum, with between 100 and 150 attendees, the numbers were 17 and 15. Again most are on the air.
Similar results were found at club meetings.
This is my 15th year as the Southwestern Division Director. The SW Division alternates between being the second and third largest division in terms of ARRL membership, depending on season. We have the second largest number of HOA's.
In all those years I've had one and only one self-initiated request from a member for the ARRL to work to overturn antenna restrictions. I have not heard from him in ten years, and am uncertain of his current status. Admittedly, after the League started the legislative action, there were a few, and I mean a few, who requested such action.
There are hams that end up in HOA areas with antenna restrictions, but they generally explain their situation as being unfortunate from a ham radio standpoint, but needed for other reasons in their lives. They don't expect the League to expend effort to change it.
I am sympathetic to expanding the ability of HOA-impacted hams to put up antennas, and supported the League's initial legislative approach, even though I did not see it as responsive to any significant member uproar. The Board voted in favor of the plan. I supported the Board.
I was upset to hear that the compromise bill had serious flaws that were withheld from the Board, and was not supportive of the compromised act, something that never underwent the slightest bit of Board debate.
Today we are at a point where we are debating future HOA-related activities. I'm happy to see some of you expressing facts and viewpoints here on ODV. Please express these to the entire group, not just privately to me, even if you are a Vice Director.
In summary -
I've found that most HOA-impacted hams seem to be on the air - somehow.
73,
Dick Norton, N6AA.
I believe attendees at Visalia represent an elite group of amateurs, and certainly not the “average” amateur.
Thus, from this highly non-random sample, no quantitative conclusions can be made that represent the full range of those in the hobby, or even in the ARRL. In particular, lack of issues with HOAs among Visalia's attendees tells us nothing about the incidence of such problems among average amateurs.
73,
Greg, K0GW