USA: Broadcasting Board Of Governors Report Advises Ending VOA Shortwave Broadcasts

Shortwave Sunset?

A study created six months ago by theBROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS but coming to light now advises the agency to "sunset" shortwave broadcasts of the VOICE OF AMERICA, according to a report at BOING BOINGbased on documents obtained byGOVERNMENT ATTIC in a Freedom of Information Act request. 

The plan, included in a strategic technology report prepared by the agency, says, "The intrinsic high cost of operating high powered shortwave stations is constantly being weighed against the rapidly diminishing effectiveness of shortwave within a growing number of countries," and proposes using Internet streaming and reducing the number of stations owned by theBBG, with leases or outsourcing to other broadcasters involved.  The plan's authors also note that the agency is likely to be pressured by political interests to continue using shortwave, but the BBG's own budget request for 2012 asserted that the agency must continue to use shortwave because "the impact of not investing in infrastructure improvements will be the loss of capability and the loss of audience."  The VOA discontinued shortwave broadcasts toCHINA in FEBRUARY.

SOURCE: Broadcasting Board Of Governors Report Advises Ending VOA Shortwave Broadcasts http://bit.ly/lUhsmY

 

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