Posted by Under Clearance on December 08, 2009 at 13:39:10:
Somehow this didn't get posted here back in November. Thoughts on this??
Sen. RUSS FEINGOLD (D-WI) has launched a series of releases called "Spotlight on Spending" highlighting what he considers wasteful federal government spending, and the first target on his list is RADIO and TV MARTI, the government-funded stations targeting CUBA.
Dropping the "relic of the Cold War (that) attempts to broadcast radio and TV signals into CUBA that virtually no one tunes in to" would save $300 million over 10 years, FEINGOLD said. "Government studies show that RADIO and TV MARTI are riddled with problems, and fall short of journalistic standards. As we progress toward a more modern and constructive relationship with CUBA, RADIO and TV MARTI no longer have any real diplomatic or fiscal purpose. I plan to bring up this issue when the Senate takes up President OBAMA's recently announced nominees to the BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS."
The stations are routinely jammed and not receivable by most Cuban residents. FEINGOLD has proposed eliminating the program in his "Control Spending Now Act"; the "Spotlight" series recalls another WISCONSIN Sen. WILLIAM PROXMIRE and his "Golden Fleece Award" in 1975-88.
VOA Expanding In South America
Meanwhile, the VOICE OF AMERICA will increase its use of RADIO and TV MARTI's facilities in MIAMI to save money as it expands broadcasts to VENEZUELA, BOLIVIA, NICARAGUA, and ECUADOR, adding more affiliates in the Andean region, according to the MIAMI HERALD.