MEMORANDUM OF MEETING: WORKING GROUP - COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030015-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: June 20, 1956
• Content Type: MIN

'Approved For Rele a 2000/08/27 : CIA-EW
CONFIDENTIAL
OPERATIONS COORDINATING BOARD
Washington 25_, D.C.
June 20., 1956
MEIORANDUM OF MEETING; Working Group Committee on Broadcasting and
Television (COBAT)
18th Meeting held 2 p.m. June 18, 1956
OCB Conference Room
Working Group Members Present:
USIA - Robert E. Button, Chairman
ICA - Gerald Winfield
State - Sidney B. Jacques
Florence T. Dowling (alternate)
T. K. E. Nesbitt - Chairman, TPIB
CIA - Representatives present
?CB - Ralph Busick
Marjorie Denny
Others Present:
State - Charles C. Finch
1. A draft reply to Beirut concerning the Lebanese TV project was
considered. With reference to the suggestion of presenting.. the educational
TV station as an outright gift, the position of the State Department was
that if it were predicated primarily or exclusively on commercial considera-
tion rather than on informational or political considerations, State did
not feel that donation of the station was justified. It was agreed the
mission should be informed that an outright gift was considered a bad
precedent. The draft cable was revised to include the fact that IES was
willing to award leader grants to train Lebanese in techniques, program
production and methods; and to suggest that USOM explore the possibility
of providing U,S. program advisers and a plan for training Lebanese in the
U.S. The revised draft has been circulated to COBAT members; final coordi-
nation will be accomplished by the State Department by telephone concurrence.
2. The ICA representative reported as of interest to the Committee
the fact that a contract was being signed for the development of a design
for a transistorized printed-circuit, mediumwave, flashlight battery-
powered, radio receiver to be manufactured for sale at approximately
,lO-","15, for. use in under-developed areas.
3. With reference to the Yugoslav TV situation, it was agreed no
further substantive action was necessary other than to acknowledge receipt
of recent information and express interest in being kept informed on future
developments,
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030015-0
USIA declassification & release instructions on file
 Approved For Re't+ese 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-0164R000300030015-0
CONFIDENTIAL
4. In view of ICArs need for carefully prepared technical guidance
on the project of a radio station for Libya, the Committee decided to
refer both the technical study prepared by USIA on the project and the
information obtained by Defense, to the TPIB. The technical panel will
be requested by COBAT to prepare, in as great detail as possible, a
proposal for radio broadcasting facilities in Libya. Since this proposal
will be processed eventually through ICA, field comment will be secured
by ICA following TPIB's recommendations. The TPIB Chairman agreed to
call an early meeting for consideration of the Libyan project.
5. The next meeting will be at the call of the Chairman.
Ralp~ 'R. Busick
Staff Representative
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030015-0