FOREIGN RADIOBROADCASTING RECEPTION POTENTIAL IN POLAND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01093A000400120001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 47
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 19, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 15, 1953
• Content Type: IR

Approved For Release 199 120001-1
F'akET~,z T i-:ADi.O HO 1t" AS'11M :REC1 P :ION PCIE i`{AL .IN POLAND
J O: FICIALS OIIL1
1R( E.SI ONAL FI AEl"ALICENCS:. REPOP.
C.IA/.t R Pn J. 3
(.(R".i Project 4E..1 ~7)
15 1'ecem'ber 1953
Tbs d is and condusion8 contained in this report do
not necer eariiy represent the final position of C
and. should be regarded as provisional only and subject
to revision, c meats or additional data which may be..
available to the user are solicited .
i I s ??C ? ,'+`- ia +C ( y1:1 t.;t ITS IT TI 'tt?,i,`r~-A."'i('~tyI-N Al'` 'FCsT1TIGTl I., 1.'l.' 1 oT!A L
.{.~E i" E RSE '. 1rE il'f ,{,"'ED STAIT-S W ,l AA 4.l- THE l"l[~t'7.1'ING OF TIU
ESPIOII.AGE LAST, TITLE i8 US--:, SECS,, 793 AND 791, 4j 'I'hA t3-
.i .)S C or Ftl" f`.IA'I':IO Lei tTlr lt~` Iii iir:' ZUTrIMP. TO > AJ U ATE ~'E 1) i 1 "D
P 9 is I':'?O I fl 11? f BY LAW.
; M AL Ii uiELL1 xE1 CE A I I C
Office of Rc-search an . reporx i
us OFF LC 1PJI - ONL '
DOCUMENT NO.
_ CLASS. CH
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ON
C
CONTENTS
Page
Summary . < . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
1. Transmission Facilities of Foreign Broadcasters to Poland. . . . y 3
A, Radio Free Europe (RFE) . . . < < . . . _ . . . . . . . 4
25X6A B. Voice of America (VOA)
. a . . . . 14
D. Other Western Broadcasters . < < . <
E. Foreign Communist Broadcasters 5
II, Polish Broadcasting System . . . . . . . - < < . 5
A. History and Organization . , _ . . . . . . ? . . . . . . . .. . 5
B. Transmitting Facilities and Services . . < - _ < < > < !
C. Television and. Aural. Broadcasting above 30 Megacycles . < . . . 11,
I II ~ Receiving Equipment in Poland . . . . . . . . . , . . < . . . . . 12
A. Number, Characteristics, and Distribution of Radiobroadcast
Receivers . . . . . . . . .. < . . . . . < . o . . . 12
B. Availability and Cost of Radio Receivers < < < . . 15
IV. Regulations and Conditions of Listening . . . . . . . . . 18
A. Regulations . . . u . . . . . . s 18
B,. Conditions of Listening . < . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . , 19
C. Jamming . . . . . . . . > . . . . . . . . . > ro < . < < 0 21.
V. Effectiveness of Western Propaganda Broadcasts . > . . . < . , 22
A. Size of the Audience . . . . . < < . . < . . . ,. . > . _ 4 22
B. Nature of the Audience . . . . . . . . . . ? . < 23
C. Popular Stations, Times, and Frequencies for Listening < , . 23
D. Some Economic Effects of Western Rad:_obroadcasts 24
E. Polish Press and Radio R3-1a':, tions to Western adiohroadcast$, 25
VI. Trends and Conclusions . . . < . < v . . . . . 26
A. Polish Broadcasting System < . . . . . . . . . . . . . < > 26
B. Receiving Equipment . . . < - . . . . . ., . . . . . . . 27
C. Regulations and Conditions of Listening
D. Effectiveness of Western Radiobroadcasts 2?3
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A;;pendixes
Appendix A. Schedule of VOA Broadcasts to Poland, February 1953
Appendix B. Presumed Organization of the Ccittee for Radio Affairs,.
October 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .
31
Appendix C. Presumed Organization of Radio Poland, 1952 . . . .
. . .
32
Appendix D. Reported Radiobroadcast Transmitting Stations, 1953
33
Appendix E. Estimated Number of Radlobroadcast Reception Facilities
in Poland, 1946-1953. . . . . . . . . . . ..
. .
34
Appendix F. Characteristics of Radio Receivers in Poland . >
,
35
Appendix G. Methodo ogy - ? . . . . ? . . . .
. ,
36
Appendix H. Gaps in Intelligence . . . . . . . _ , . . , .
.. . .
37
.Appendix I. Sources and Evaluation of Sources . . < . . > . I ? .
_ . .
39
Maps
Followin ]Lap e
Poland: Radiobroadcasting Stations and Reported Jamming Stations,,
1953....,. ....... ..... .......... 8
Poland.- Reported Reception Points of Western Broadcasts, 1257 . . . 22
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FOREIGN RADIOBROADCASTING RECEPTION POTENTIAL IN POI.AN -
Poland has made notable efforts to restore its radiobroadcasting facil-
ities e aid capabilities which were largely destroyed during World War II
To this end, both domestic and international broadcasting facilities have
been restored by the government to a degree w:iich surpasses prewar instal-
lations in technical performance and powers Wire-diffusion radio and
collective-listening techniques have been emp*msized, to bring State-con-
trolled programs to the mass of the populatioi.v It is claimed that
production of radio receiving equipment has b_=.en built up to a point where
little dependence is -placed on the importa.tioz of component parts, tubes,
or sets
A concerted effort has been made by the Palish goverrarent to prevent
reception of Western broadcasts beamed at its populace. Despite the absence
of express 1egislat-j.on prohibiting foreign broadcast reception, Poland takes
many steps to d' scoa~ra e it, short of the drastic action of confiscation
of those radio-receiving facilities capable of such reception.. These indi-
rect im-
position methods include:. (1) setting high prices for radio :receivers,
position of registration and monthly licensing fees which are higher for
owners of radio receivers than for those who awn loudspeakers, (3) prison
sentences aid fines for those whom the State or Party desires to punish for
having listened to or publicly discussed forei :n broadcasts, (1k) intimidation
of listeners by various means, (5) jamming of foreign broadcasts, (6) sub-
stitution of loudspeakers conxnect~,d to State-controlled ware-diffusion
centers for radio receivers, (7) group-iister.ing techniques, (8) repair of
all. Privately owned radio-receiving equipment, by the States and (9) restricted
confiscation of radio receivers in individual cases.
'jomestic radiobroea,dcasting has increased considerably during the postwar
period, and there are, at present, two national programs emanating from
Warsaw, the seat of all broadcast activity :i.r?. Poland. One program is trans-
mitted on low frequencies-M, and the other or. medium frequencies ?,-`?""
This paper contains information reflecting the situation in Poland as of
April 1953, although information of later dates has been used., where available,-
** Low frequencies extend from 30 to 300 kilocycles and are often referred
Y
to as "long waves.'
***-- Medium grequencies extend from 300 to 3,000 kilocycles and are often
referred to are ' odium -raves. "
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The effectiveness of Western broadcasting M7 be soon from the insistont,
derogatory press and radio attacks, jam activity, wire-diffusion radio and
loudspoak:r growth, intimidation of listeners, and othor techniques adopted by
the State, designed to discoura listonintr to foroi gn programs. Although
confiscation of all radio receivers capable of foreipn broadcast reception is
an over-presont threat, the State has not yet resorted to such direct action.
It has contented.itoolf with more indirect, and loss affective techniques.
Io smiss?.on F eilities ofForeign BERgdeasters to ro1and.
Foreign broadcasters.. according to latest figures available, aro trana-
mitting a total of 122 1/2 prom-am hours a weak to Poland. The rra;1 ority of
these hours are broadcast by Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Freo I? rope
(RFE) for a total of 58 1/2 hours. Other Wostorn countries broadcast 39 3/4
boors; US`R transmits 13 3/4 hours, and Yugoslavia 10 1/2 hours. Those
figures represent orir.-inal propran hours, exclusive of any rebroadcasting,,
Table I shows the oripinatinp nation, number of weekly program hours? and
the uurriher of high and medium frequencies used in these transmissions
Reported Foreign Broadcasts into Poland$ Weakly Program Hours
and Number of Frequencies Used /*
January 1953
Lumber of Freauen~cis
i.~incatira Nation
Weekly Pro rata Ilorurc
USM
13 3/4
3
3
Lid
14
5
0
France
12 3/4
7
0
Italy
21/2
6
1
Yugoslavia
10 1/2
4
4
Spain
3 1/4
1
0
Vatican City
8
1
Turkey
13/4.
2
0
US VoA )
10 1/2
18
1
us (RFr)
48
9
0
to arabic nume al are to sources listed in A pendix I,
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14 16 l
Q -: B A L T I C
e 20
22 7A 76
,. T
Ok
S E A
wie "it
54 - '~
Gdansk
(Danzi
)
sn
g
Nowogar
(Naugard
~
Not,-
Ail eoE,ons ore nne red I.
All
o
dlrelely o
Wo- by wi,
Szczeci
ah.oeyh other smnons. `
n
(Stettin)
Bydgoszcz
^*
Torun
Pozna
n S RL
'
GERMANY{
WARSAW
0,^~El
`' ' - "''
f5ee axe and . D hor demos)
t6df ^
Wroclaw
(Breslau)
/ji41 La iewniki 'A Z6rawina
z
(Hei er
d
f)
t. ,
s
or
* (Rothsurbe
)
c x ,
Katowice
(Stalinogrod)
`?
,v
0
A
P
Krak6w / .. - 50
CZCHOSLO AKIA
-
-
l
14 16 1
8
20 2z .~__._ _ 2d
POLAND
Radiobroadcasting and Reported Jamming Stations -1953
^ Broadcasting studio ? Transmitter(s) * Reported jamming station
--?- 1953 International boundary o so loo Mae,
1953 De facto boundary or limit i--r-r---r~
of administration 0 50 1 00 KilomelersMmiwmafik~
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Many people have old_Gorman sets and those on the coast rely
on seamen for parts and tubes to keep them in repair, These are smta;gled
in at a good profit,- other soiwces of necessary parts and tubes are
%oviot?cfficors who have boon in West Germany, and relatives in the United
Itates who send ahem parts in food and clothing parcels.
At bast, it can be said that ranio, receivers are difficult
for the avera person to socure in Poland because of the low supply, both
of sets produced in th-: country and those imported, and bocause of high
prices and monthly fees that obtain, as well as other conditions inciden-
tal to, their purchase.
17. Roflulations and Conditions of Iii stenine.
A. Rer'ulatione,
Liko other iatellito countries, Poland has no law, decree, or
statute, promulgated for the express purpose of prohibiting' its citizens
from listoninp to for?ien broadcasts. However, ouch listening is
strenuously discoura?ed throurh a systdiatic car-paion by the authorities?
In necoribor 1950, a law wris promulgated which states, in prsrt, ."Whoever,'
by word or deed, throur-h tho press, radio,'films, or any other moans,
sprears war props nda, commits a crime?apainst peace, and is subject to
imprisonment up to fifteen years." This sooc-illod law as the 1)efonse of
Peace is a tool in the hands of the authorities. Than denl effectively
with those whom the state and Party t'in4 it necessary or oonveni?nt to
prosecute and pun1gh for listening to and sprea'ins' propaganda generated
by Western broadcasts. j/ It will be noted that this law does not pro-
hibit owning or using a radio receiver. It is broader and hence proba-
bly more effective in its application to actions that anir'ht be attributed
to owninp or using radio sets.
Many cases attest to the fact that the defonse of peace law is
invoked, punisont meted out, and tho population intimidated and
coerced into refrainiip from listening to foreign broadcasts. The Ware
saw Provincial Court recently imposeri a t:ro-year sentence an a listener,
eharping that he was disseminating war propaganda by a11o'ing people
to assemble in his radio shop and listen to VQA and BBC broadcasts, /
Another recent case invoivod a trial"in -shier six people were sentenced
to death for the muxrer of an actor and radio corsmntator. The culprits
alle?edly fowl thoir inspiration by listeninr daily to the "criminal"
propaganda of VQA. /
Although not wide-srrerid, ifstanees &re a teal t6 substantiate
rumors that arrests have been made ant r-dios soized by tho authorities
on tho c'nar?^ th-it, the offender was listonin-- to foroio-n broadcasts. T
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be available for xdividual purchase) in factories, on street corners,
in schools, friendly societies, State farms, agricultural cooperatives,
vorkerse centers, public halls, and other gathering places. A/ Sevk-
eral thousand schools; are reported to be so equipped, those in rural
sections with battery-operated equipment.: In this way the younger In-
doctrinated and led early in the ways of the Party and in Comsimisia,
In factories the system is employed for giving orders. and announcements
to workers, and for branding shirkers and those reporting late or not
reporting for work at all, by broadcasting their names throughout the
working area, .=/ Certainly this is not a condition of the workers'
choosing and such installations are despised by the workers and dreaded
by the shirkers. The popularity of wired radio in general and of group
listening is a matter of conjecture, but it is probable that it is not
very poplar, Whore it is the only type of radio generally available
to the masses as a whole, however, there is little choice but to accept
its
Production and other data Indicato that a majority of radio-
broadcast,ooeiver sots produced . In .Poland have high-froquency dents?
which alloys reception of foreign broadcasts. It has been reported that
about 59 percent of the sets in the hands of, the people are capable of
high-frequency +eco tiM, gsnea'alty a riquirmmant for Woerterfi radiobroada
cast reception. Besides the prohibitively high prices of new setao
which at beat are in short supply,, it is necessary to present a work
certificate fdr it purr ase.. For a special set it must be the certificate
of an "activist". Purchasbx's on the installment plan are beset by still
another.obataales, Rev rociio=receivers are evidently allocated on
a monthly basis to citi*s and co n mitios. M/ Thus, a low allocation
would constitute a restriction to foreign radiobroadcast listening,,
Many sets In use are of foreign rrr oO and many date back some
yoar3, which n 1:os it flifficuit, if not impassible in many cases, to
secure the required parta for their repair, Furthorm ro,. the estate
%terpriso for Rad4ofics,tioas in Poland is charged with the maintenance
and ropair of all radio-receivers, ,/ The repair of independently
.owned radio receivers is virtually a monopoly of the State. This affords
the State a control over listening; especially if the State chooses not
to-repair those seta capable of receiving Western radiobroadeasts, on
the plausible excu*ao that requisite parts or tubes are not available,
This arranpemont also provides an ideal opportunity for confiscaticm'of'
sets.
I/
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IJ
Gorzbw Wielkopolski
is (La dsberg)
1
Gz~ 14,SNy
CZECHOSLO AK I A
Rzesz6w
Reported Reception Points of Western Broadcasts -1953
26
T
~??- 1953 International boundary o so 10,0 Wr ,
1953 De facto boundary or limit i--~-r
o I
1
11 Kn--,
Poznal1?
Wrze?niale
Wroclaw
.(Breslau)
ynla
V
Gdansk
(Danzig)
Bydgoszcz
22 24
1 _ 1.
~! U.I S. S.
WARSAW
.Radom
Labedy
Laband)
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amount involved,, At toast, any such diversion of equipment and manpower
reduces the available supply for more direct economic productivity. lf
it can be taken that the worker's propcnsity to works and to work offoca-
tivcly and efficiently,, is influenced- and it likely ire-by the imbalance
between the convictions produced by Western rar?iobroadcasts as against the
the persuasions incurred by Soviet propaganda, thou the Polish hierarchy
may have concluded that the costs are justified by the results,,
- 29
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Append ix A
Schedule of VOA Broadcasts to Po1aad
(February 1953)
Time
M
Yro Content
firannnitting
I,ocatim
USA
Fre Mncigs ( e
21500, 18809 15 D9 1.5165.
9625k 73201, 6050
1196
15259 11711? 9635
1196
96359 7170
1615 Rally-News; features an Polish
1645 life, Polish and world prose,
politics, American 1ife9 ref-
utation of lips by Warenw radio
and press.,
1930. Daily.-Fast, Europe news; features
2000 on Polish affairs and interviows
with Polish defoctor3A culture,
relipion9 history,, eceraomiesa
2030? I 1y* fats; features on Polish
2100 press, life in USSR, other Satel1
lites9 Polish life, answer to
Warsaw ra~&.io liana 3atlra:,
2315- Repeat of 1930-20[)0 program
2345
2Z5m Repeat of 2030-2100 program
22.x.5
0145 Repeat of 2)30-2100 ram
0215
0500- Repeat of 2030.2100 program
0530
Repeat of 2)30-w2LOO
0600
0?3t Repeat of 2030-2100 Program
0800
1030' Repeat of 2030-2100 program
BBC (Relay)
1iich (Relay)
Tangier (Relay)
%Mich
Tangier (Relay)
Lich
Armed Fo?ese
Network rmich
-Stuttgart
Tangier
Mmich
Tangier (Relay)
151659 117759 9?009 6175-
96359, 7171
1196
3196
U96
549 (Sat, thru Tueao)
1106 (Wed,,, Thurso, Fr$.)
1196
9650
6080, 96358 72909, 6U59
951409 ?2509 6140
118309 9650
72509 6140
30 .10
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Pr+ognm Council
Chaix'r n
15 Members
Dureauas
Studios & Program
Evaluation
Rol-ional Broad-
casts
MMMIM
Schools
Personnel
Independent
Editorial Staff
Broadcast Cos rdin4tion
Mail & Correspondence
Publicity & Informati o!
Program Services fors
Education9 Children,,
Literature, Mus fort,
Drama and Shoos
Social Affairs
Special greats _ -
International
Service
Independent Iatdepondexst Section
Sd to for Radio Publishin
Bureaus:
Independent Section Budget and B
for -Studies and keeping
Foreign Broadcast
Coordination Bureau
Pore ?!n Prdg s
tiaaur I
Technical
I estment
Tochnical Studies
and Preparation
House of Radio
Project
C astral Workshops
Warsaw Loudspeaker
Network System yY a
FOTt3iM1 CIi
Monitoring
Enployz flt and
Salaries
Administration
State Enterprise
Radio Poland
* One member is a representative of
the Ministry of Posts and Tolographs
Appendix B
Presumed Organization of the Ce tttee for Radio Affairs., October 19511.
National Service
State Pntorprise
T atliofication of
the Country
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Appondix C
Presumed Crg niMti m of Radio ]Polsnd a 1952 2W
Sureau ss
Parsnoael,
Technical
Distribution
Also office holders of Conmitt a for Radio Affairs
-32..
Foroipn &
Dcastic
Broadcast
Monitoring
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AGA IWIPUII/
AGA
1100 iviLexh
Reekord IV
3ta .tyk
Storn(3 i ociala)
Tt garatn
Appendix
GhRarics aRafliver s, in kle
Country
ew
ex
Nooot
i.
Wave
j2dha
(195i-52)
Reported
-Erune
-
Fat
4 gyp/
SW MW LW 32/ 759
Tot quality
Po d
5
SW MW LW
iffOO
Faulty tubes
Poland
7
Ste IN LW
SWMW LW
19150
Righ quialtty
Now sat 1.953
Gzooho alov aia
2
MW LW
SW14WLW
SW MW Tom'
450
V5
`or plants & sehea+alt
SW TV LW
1075 3
6
SW Mkt LW
2
MW
5
SW 14W LW
Rv. s
4
19 LW
6GC . !
ogal sales
Russia
5
SW MW Lit
600-19000
Russia
5
SitI,iLW
2,0600
Rut sia
SW I1W LW
2,9000
East Gory
ESa,st Gcax sy
S;W 1.1W LV
SW IOW LW
1g65O-291GO
CXIX)
Fop suet
very gr
Certain medls of Pioneer have fowr tubas and at
14hi1ta other rjodels batfiozy-operated?
mans short x vo (high frequency)
MW means medium valve ( dium f oquenay) ,
LW means none tra, (lawn frequency);,
-35 A-
oompan?ata,
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