MONTHLY REPORT -- PANAMA BUREAU -- SEPTEMBER 1981

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00385R000200110007-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 8, 2007
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: October 7, 1981
• Content Type: MEMO

I
Approved For Release 2007/05108: CIA-RDP83-00385200110007-2
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
7 October 1981
MPA #1036
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, FBIS
THROUGH Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau -- September 1981
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. Illustrating the vulnerability of the remote monitoring cir-
cuits to local telephone cable conditions, the Managua portion of the
Central American system was out for four days at the beginning of the
month and seven days at the end of the month due to cable faults in Ma-
nagua which cut most of the Embassy's phone lines. The bureau maintain-
ed coverage on a delayed basis with commercial phonefeeds from our con-
tractors.
Meanwhile, the Guatemala remote circuit was transferred from
the Managua-San Salvador line to the second remote circuit established
by way of Tegucigalpa on 18 September and the opportunity was taken for
extensive and highly productive three-day cruising of Guatemala Citytrans-
mitters. However, the segment of the new remote circuit which will bring
the Tegucigalpa receiver on line cannot be connected until the local tele-
communications company completes installation of lines to the Embassy. All
other equipment is in place.
2. The bureau attempted extensive cruising of Belize City Domes-
tic Service as the country became independent, using the somewhat-limited
HF antennas available at both the Guatemala City and Managua remote sites.
The Managua antennas provided the better reception, but this was still poor
and unreliable and limited to early morning and late evening broadcasts.
B. Communications
1. The bureau's primary communications were out a total of only 4
hours 32 minutes during the month, all on 9 September, when the Panama Au-
 Approved For Release 2007/05108: CIA-RDP83-00385R~0200110007-2
?
tomated Relay had computer problems.
II. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
1. Mr. Chief, Panama Bureau, de arted on PCS~$T
Headquarters together with family on 4 September 1981. has Fa~~T
assigned to the Operations Group, pending his retirement in November.
2. Mr. assumed duties as Chief, Panama B~~AT
reau, effective eptem er
field editorial training.
arrived on 30 September to begin herSTAT
4. Teletypist reSTAT
turned to Panama after more than a month's TDY at the Key West Bureau,
were they replaced .personnel who were on leave.
5. A small ceremony was held at the bureau on 29 Se tember 1981
to celebrate the promotions of STA
III. VISITS
1. HQ Engineer visited the Bureau from 28 AugustSTAT
through 8 September to supervise recent installations for the second de-
dicated line.
2. Production Group linguist, paid a vi~~tAT
to the bureau 3-5 September as part of an orientation tour of several
South American countries.
Chief, Panama Bureau, FBIS
Attachments:
Monthly Production Report
Operations Attachment
Engineering Attachment
STAT