WORKING GROUP - COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030011-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: July 6, 1956
• Content Type: MIN

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Approved For ~Fease 2000/08/27 :CIA-RDP78-34R0003000~~~~~1-4
OPERATIONS COORDINATING BOARD
Washington 25, D.C.
July 6, 1956
MEMORANDUM OF MEETING; Working Group - Committee an Broadcasting and
Television (COBAT)
20th Meeting held 2 p.m. July 5, 1956
OCB Conference Room
Working Group Members Presents
USIA - Robert E. Button, Chairman
ICA - Gerald t~~Tinfield
-State -Sidney B. Jacques
Florence T. Dowling (alternate)
T. H. E. Iv7esbitt - Chairman, TPIB
CIA - Representative present
OCB - Ralnh Busick, Staff Representative
Marjorie Denny, Staff Assistant
Others Present;
Defense - Major Stanley Rodby
State - Marshall Noble
1. A cable from Beirut concerning the television situation in Lebanon
and U.S. commercial interest therein, was considered by the Committee.
After full discussion, it was agreed that State would draft a reply, which
would then be further coordinated with interested agencies.
2. With reference to Saigon Despatch No. ~?5, the Chairman informed
the Committee of certain programming change suggested by the Mission which
had already been adopted by USIA. The ICA representative elaborated on
hCAts plans for the area and displayed charts showing present radio coverage,
coverage with planned improvements, and coverage with proposed 25 KW medium-
wave transmitter near the 17th Parallel. The TPIB representative suggested
consideration be given to an available 50 KW transmitter Which could be
purchased for the price of a new 25 IfW. COBAT agreed to support plans for
supplementing present broadcasting facilities in Vietnam, but decided to
postpone final consideration until IC.A has supplied further information on
the status of the Mission's facilities, and until the separate despatch
promised by the Missa.an on the subject of installation of a big transmitter
has been received.
3. The ICA representative reported that an airgram to Tripoli, contain-
ing TPIB and COBAT proposals concerning a radio station for Libya, had been
prepared but not yet sent.
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 :CIA-RDP78-016348000300030011-4
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Q. The Defense representative reported that a policy statement con-
cerning the. use of USIA films on military TV stations is being prepared.
5. The Austrian radio and TV situation was discussed. It is under-
stood that the Austrians would like some assistance from the U.S. in setting
up their shortwave broadcasting, and that if such assistance were to be
forthcoming, it might result in more U.S. material being shown on Austrian
TV, which has a spillover audience outside of the country.
6. The next meeting will be at the call of the Chairman.
Ralph R. Busick
Staff Representative
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 :CIA-RDP78-016348000300030011-4