MEMORANDUM OF MEETING: SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF TECHNICAL PANEL INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING (TPIB) AND THE COMMITTEE FOR BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030020-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: April 20, 1956
• Content Type: MIN

s
Approved For ReleasQOOO/08/27 : CIA-
SECRET
Operations Coordinating Board
Washington 25, D.C.
April 20, 1956
MEMORANDUM OF MEETING: Special Joint Meeting of Technical Panel for
International Broadcasting (TPIB) and the
Committee for Broadcasting and Television (COBAT)
Held 10:00 A.M., April 19, 1956
OCB Conference Room
Working Group Members Present:
TPIB - State - T. H. E. Nesbitt, Chairman
USIA - Fred Trimmer
Edgar T. Martin (alternate)
Defense - Col. Donald R. Bodine
Commerce - Alvin G. McNish (Bustandards)
FCC - Robert Toseh
OCB - Leslie Brady
Ralph Busick
Marjorie Denny
COBAT - USIA - Robert Button
ICA - Gerald Winfield
Defense - Col. M. E. Williamson
CIA Representative
1. The special joint meeting of TPIB and COBAT was chaired by the
TPIB Chairman. The minutes of the TPIB meeting of April 3rd were adopted.
2. The Chairman explained that this was a special meeting arranged
for the purpose of considering present and proposed VOA coverage; particularly
because the Operations Coordinator of the State Department had requested that
the appropriate OCB working groups study the desirability, as a matter of
urgency, of the full implementation of NSC Action 1386b. Copies of the State
Department memorandum to the Executive Officer of OCB had been distributed
previously to the members of two 0CB working groups, TPIB and COBAT, for
consideration at this meeting. The Chairman filled in the necessary back-
ground for members of COBAT, including delineation of the plan before the
NSC on April 28, 1955IT~,the date of NSC 1386b. These plans called for the
activation of two-5OOIshortwave transmitters in the Tangier area, one 1000
KW mediumwave and two-500 KW shortwave transmitters in the Greek area, and
two--500 KW shortwave transmitters in the Philippines.
3. The USIA representatives presented charts showing present daytime
and nighttime mediumwave coverage of the COURIER; possible coverage with
proposed land-based installation to be operated at one-half power (250 KW)
with directional antenna; coverage which might be expected with full power
of 500 KW; and coverage which could be accomplished by the activation of
1000 KW which would be part of the full implementation of 1386b.
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4. Charts were next presented showing daytime and nighttime coverage
of proposed shortwave installations in the Tangier, Greek, and Philippines
areas, followed by coverage which could be accomplished with full implemen-
tation of 1386b (1000 KW shortwave in each of the three above areas). The
standard set up for all coverage charts presented was 2 milivolts per meter
for daytime signals and 2- milivolts per meter for nighttime signals, as
defining primary coverage areas. Population figures, as well as approximate
number of receivers to be covered by the various proposed installations were
provided the working groups, together with approximations of the number which
could be reached by full implementation of 1386b.
5. After a thorough study of the coverage of present U.S. broadcasting
facilities directed toward the Middle East, the Balkans, Southwestern and
Central Russia, Asia and the Far East, it was the consensus of both working
groups that present facilities were inadequate; that the steadily increasing
jamming capabilities of the Soviets had not been matched by improvement in
U.S. technical broadcasting capabilities; and that the full plan approved
over a year ago should be implemented. It was pointed out that U.S. broad-
casting was in a state of retrogression when compared with the Communist
effort, and that the U.S. was in danger of losing the radio cold war because
it was not fully utilizing its available resources.
6. A draft memorandum to the 0CB was considered. TPIB and COBAT jointly
agreed to recommend. that the Board direct full implementation of NSC Action
1386b with budgetary provision therefor, as a matter of urgency. Specific
actions to be recommended were:
a. Expedite the project in the Tangier area.
b. Implement the original plans in the Greek area on land where base
rights have already been negotiated (installation of one 1000 KW
mediumwave and two 500 KW shortwave transmitters) rather than
present plans, which are considered inadequate, for one 500 KW
mediumwave transmitter to be operated at one-half power (250KW).
c. Implement the activation of two-500 KW shortwave transmitters in
the Phili-;.)pines as originally submitted to the NSC, in addition
to the installation of two 100 KW shortwave transmitters as
recently proposed.
(The report as adopted was sent forward to the OCB, where it was decided the
memorandum from the State Department should be an attachment to the Board
Assistants agenda item and minor editorial changes were then made in the
body of the report.)
7. The next regular meeting of TPIB will be held Thursday, April 26
T. H. E. Nesbitt
Chairman, TPIB
SECRET
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030020-4