MONTHLY REPORT - LONDON BUREAU - NOVEMBER 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87-01104R000100090002-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 27
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 3, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100090002-1
3 December 1986
MLD-6048
Monitorial/Editorial
1. Spirits were lifted during the month by a message from the
DRD managing editor commending "the bureau's handling of
this year's Great October Socialist Revolution
anniversary." DRD appreciation was also received for the
bureau's preparations to cover the 17-19 November Supreme
Soviet session.
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
FROM : Chief, FBIS London Bureau
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report - London Bureau - November 1986
1. Bureau progress on Internet continued with the arrival from
Headquarters of the control console, which was quickly installed
and tested by bureau engineers. Pending receipt from
Headquarters of modems for RTTY and Nefax send/receive, all
bureau Internet-related equipment has been installed and tested.
Late in the month BTI began testing Internet circuits from the
bureau to the satellite and back. Although the pressfax signal
test was successful, grounding incompatibility between the
bureau and BTI lines prevented video signal tests. The bureau
and BTI are working to resolve this problem. The long-awaited
response from BTI Teleprove to the bureau's application for
orderwire equipment approvals arrived 28 November. All
documents and bureau recommendations were faxed to Headquarters
for review.
2. FBIS Director visited the bureau 19-21 November for STAT
orientation and management discussions with bureau and BBC
officers. The visit was highlighted by numerous social events
with staff and non-staff personnel.
Effective 9 November, bureau editorial implemented a 90-day
experiment by which slot editors begin and and work 1 hour
earlier. Slot work during the experiment will be
0000-0800, 0800-1600, 1600-0000. It is hoped that the
altered working hours will improve coordination at shift
change. Rim editor hours will remain the same.
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100090002-1
3. The PMU/DRD diskette project got off to a successful start
during the month. On 13 November PMU sent a 10-take Zaykov
address to Leningrad voters and on 18 November two Supreme
Soviet session reports by GOSPLAN Chief Talyzin (14 takes)
and Finance Minister Gostev (15 takes) on Wang-compatible
diskettes, thereby providing the DRD with some 40,000 words
which would not have to be retyped by the Kelly girls.
Further procedural refinements are being coordinated
between PMU and the DRD.
B. Communications
Thanks to bureau engineers, the PMU data circuit connecting the
Wang processor to the telexcutter reperforator in the punching
room has been reconfigured so that incoming copy from any of the
26 VDU's can be immediately and automatically stopped and stored
prior to tape replacement. In addition to being invisible to
the Wang user, this automated procedure no longer requires the
communicator to verbally advise all users to discontinue sending
until the telexcutter tape is replaced.
C. Lateral Services
1. Prompted by a refile request from the American Embassy in
Berlin, the bureau requested and received from the embassy
a clarification of its requirements which was passed to
Headquarters Liaison and Requirements Staff.
2. A request for subscriptions to JPRS publications received
from John A. Hurley, the new U.S. Customs attache at
London, was forwarded to Headquarters 12 November.
3. The bureau responded quickly to a 5 November priority
request from the American Embassy in Oman for a copy of an
M. Petrov article in the Soviet publication NEW TIMES
entitled "Oman: The Rim of the Middle East" which had been
transcribed and filed to the embassy by PMU. The original
article was sent directly to the embassy via international
mail.
D. Technical
With the increased use of the 14W.pressfax signal as opposed to
the 53E signal due to current ad hoc and proposed operational
use of the ROSET dish, it was discovered that the AFP equipment
could not handle the recorded 14W signal when played in reverse
for reprinting purposes. Bureau engineers discovered that the
14W signal contains an additional tone similar to but longer
than the start tone at the beginning of each page but which
appears at the end of the page. This does not affect the
operation of the AFP or Versatec plotter when the live signal is
used for printing. However, when the recorded signal is played
back the different tone characteristics cause the AFP equipment
to false frame. Fortunately bureau engineers were able to
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100090002-1
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100090002-1
resolve the problem by using the Muirhead and Kodak equipment
(wet process), which is unaffected by the additional signal
tones. The bureau is thus able to maintain a backstop record/
print capability for both pressfax signals.
Personnel
1. Congratulations from the Director and Deputy Directo
Chief Operations Group were passed to Senior Editor
on her 20 years of service to FBIS and the U.S.
Government.
2. Communicator) Iwas selected from among six candidates
to fill a sixth position in the Tabulation Unit to be
transferred from the Communications Section. will
transfer duties effective 4 January 1987.
3. Editor and family departed PCS for Headquarters on 9
November.
4. Due to illness in the family, editor had to return
to the States mid-November. She returned to duty 25 November.
5. PMU is currently recruiting for Cambodian monitors at the
request of Bangkok Bureau. The few responses received to date
are being followed up.
6. In coordination with Communications Unit chief
bureau engineer is developing a training program for
commo shift supervisors in the use of the Internet control
console and associated equipment.
orientation and briefing; AG Mideast Anal st
18 November; and AG Korean Analyst TDY 28 Novembe
TDY
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
cc: Chief, Austria Bureau
Chief, Cologne Unit
Chief, Islamabad Unit
Chief, Okinawa Bureau
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100090002-1
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100090002-1
London Bureau Production Report for NOVEMBER 198
TOI AI... PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH- 2,239,71()
TOTF.i1 NON- ?PUBL I SHABLC WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 528,260
T0T() I.... NUMBER OF* PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED UUR :!: NG MONTH-, 4 , 904
BF(OAI)-- PRESS PLJBL I -
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
I I . INPUT OF' REGULAR COVERAGE.::: 71 9954 150,996 568 . f:)4
(minutes ar issues per week) min. min. issues
I I I OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES :
(publishable words per month)
AFGHAN I S1 AN
E:ng1 i. s h to Europe
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