REPORT ON SEMI-ANNUAL INSPECTION TOUR OF FBIS CENTRAL AMERICA REMOTE OPERATIONS 2-15 MARCH 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP94-00798R000200340013-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 14, 2012
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: March 25, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200340013-4
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FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE nj C1'
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
25 March 1986
MPA - 6009
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Operations Group
THROUGH Chief, Panama Bureau V
FROM
Deputy Chief, FBIS Panama Bureau
SUBJECT Report on Semi-annual Inspection Tour
of FBIS Central America Remote Operations
2-15 March 1986
Together with Panama Chief Technician
I performed the Spring, 1986, semi-annual inspection tour of the
four FBIS remote sites in Central America: San Salvador,
Tegucigalpa, Guatemala City and Managua.
STAT
STAT
At all of the sites located within the American Embassy in the
respective capitals, we met jointly with the local FBIS contractors
to brief them on current operational and technical requirements
and, while performed routine maintenance on the STAT
remote circuits and associated equipment, I met with local
embassy officers to discuss various issues concerning support
necessary for and provided by the FBIS local presence.
Issues discussed at every site included:
-- The continuing requirement that FBIS Panama Bureau be
provided with copies of FBIS contractor's work vouchers;
-- Confirmation that -- with the exception of Managua --
FBIS contractor's must receive their reimbursement in local
currency and not in U.S. dollars;
-- A reemphasis that remote feeds should be made using the
dedicated remote circuits whenever possible and restricting the
use of commercial feeds to emergency last resort situations;
-- Plans for installing Nefax machines in each site some-
time this year and the associated need for the FBIS contractors
to have access to an embassy Xerox machine;
-- FBIS equipment at each site was inventoried and signed
for by a responsible embassy officer;
-- Emergency backstop procedures that would be employed in
the event that Panama Bureau's operations were interrupted for
any reason, i.e. FBIS contractors would be contacted and requested
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200340013-4
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200340013-4
to provide open source media items via a commercial phone patch
feed to an alternate FBIS field bureau (Key West or Paraguay)
or even possibly to FBIS Headquarters;
-- The availability and value of the video aspects of local
television news and special events programming and procedures
for a sampling survey;
-- The change of command at FBIS Panama Bureau in which
would assume bureau chief duties in August.
San Salvador, El Salvador 2-5 March
STAT
STAT
FBIS contractors Voice andl STAT
(press) and Jalternate) were briefed
on current requirements. agreed to provide 12 U-Matic STAT
videotapes of selected San Salvador television programming to
Panama. Following an initial sampling of the video product a
determination would be made by FBIS about the continued value STAT
of such efforts.
I met with embassy officers Donald Hamilton, PAO; his deputy
John Williams, USIS information officer; and USIS Administrative
Assistant Christine Limpach. Mr. Hamilton expressed his warm
praise for the FBIS product and asked that Panama bureau begin
regular coverage of the Sunday homily by the San Salvador
archbishop (or his designate) that is broadcast on Vol Pan
Americana on 800 kHz. Arrangements were made to begin the
regular service the following Sunday. Mr. Hamilton said that
he was being replaced in late June by Jake Gillespie, currently
chief of P/GF at ISIA State in Washington, D.C.
Tegucigalpa, Honduras 5-8 March
I met with embassy officers Michael O'Brien, PAO, his deputy
Arthur Skop, USIS Information Officer; and James Prietsch RSO to
discuss the recent dismissal of FBIS contractor on STAT
the recommendation of the embassy security office. I was informed
that when was confronted with allegations of improper STAT
financial dealings he signed his resignation without protest and
departed. Subsequent to my return to Panama, I learned that just
one week after his dismissal as FBIS contractor, the Honduran
authorities arrested on charges of embezzlement of STAT
funds unrelated to his work for FBIS or the earlier allegations
that led to his dismissal by the embassy.
I interviewed five candidates for the position of FBIS contractor
and hired a 22-year-old who came highly recommended STAT
by embassy officers for his enthusiasm and initiative.
is fully cleared by the embassy and presently working on STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200340013-4
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200340013-4
d a personal services contract at GSO. USIS em to agrand to work
alternate FBIS contractor
closely with to train him in the use of the FBIS
equipment and operational needs.
arranged for the Tegucigalpa
viousl
d
y
pre
ha
ls censored from its sister paper
i
a
LA PRENSA to receive mater
Managua LA PRENSA. If the censored materials were subsequently
published FBIS could openly exploit them. The censored
materials were received in Tegucigalpa but not used after Managua
LA PRENSA warned that the Sandinista authorities could use their
republication as rationale to close their paper down.
Embassy officers agreed that the video aspects of Honduran
television coverage were generally very poor and would not merit
consideration for exploitation at least for the present.
Finally, in the equipment inventory we found one small radio
unaccounted for and believed it was still in or it w en he
possession. agreed to ask
returned for his final paycheck.
Guatemala City, Guatemala 8-12 March
Embassy officers in Guatemala had advised us that they would be
moving the FBIS equipment from a room on the third floor of the
chancellery to another room on the ground floor and that all
major work would be accomplished before our arrival. As it
happened, except for installing ducting between the two rooms,
no eal work on moving our equipment and lines was completed
and performed journeyman efforts to run the
necessary cables to the new room and to disconnect and reinstall
all the equipment in just 2 days.
R b t Austin administrative
r
STAT
I met with embassy officers o e
counselor; Aida Castellanos, personnel officer; John Wilson, RSO;
and Julio Perez, GSO, to discuss continued embassy support for
the FBIS remote operation.
FBIS contractor agreed to provide VHS
continue STAT
format samples o uatemalan television news
wasdaskespecial
programming to Panama Bureau. alternate. STAT
her duties acting as STAT
Managua, Nicaragua 12-15 March STAT
installed a NEFAX machine (transferred from
Tegucigalpa) for use by the FBIS press contractor. The NEFAX
will facilitate our processing more itmes from the Nicaragua press
than possible under the previous system of having the contractor
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200340013-4
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200340013-4
read selected items into a tape recorder and feed that recording
over the remote line to Panama.
1 I1SCUSSeU ,viuc v,,. . ~.?. --..t ------
with Christopher Swenson, embassy administrative counselor,STAT
about her paychecks, a request for a W-2 form for income tax
reporting, and for a se aratMr. embassy contract Swenson agreed towith
contractor accommodate us
on all questions o required support. STAT
Voice contractor agreed to provide U-Matic
videotapes of selected Managua television programming to Panama
Bureau.
CONCLUSION
All FBIS contractors and embassy officers that we dealt with
were very gracious in the hospitality and assistance offered
during the inspection trip. The trip was considered a success
because we were able to coordinate operational, technical and
support requirements in meetings with key officers at each site.
Deputy Chief, FRIS
Panama Bureau
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200340013-4