WORKING GROUP - COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030008-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: July 31, 1956
• Content Type: MIN

Approved For Relea 290/08/27: CIA-RDP78-0
''.TICNS COORDINATING BOARD
Washington 25, D.C.
July 31, 1956
,MEMORANDUM OF MEETING: Working Group - Committee on Broadcasting
and Television (COBAT)
21st Meeting held 2 p.m. July 31, 1956
OCB Conference Room
Working Group Members Present:
USIA - Robert E. Button, Chairman
Frederick A. Long
State - T. H. E. Nesbitt (Chairman TPIB)
ICA - Gerald Winfield
Defense -Col. M. E. Williamson
CIA - Representatives present
OCB - Ralph Busick, Staff Representative
Marjorie Denny, Staff Assistant
Others Present:
State - George Allen
Philip Burris
ICA - Stephen Dorsey
1. The minutes of the meetings of June 13, 18, 27 and July 5 were
approved.
2. Messrs. Allen and Dorsey were present for a discussion of the TV
situation in Lebanon, the background of which was supplied by the Chairman
and the ICA representative. Mr. Allen, in some impromptu remarks, stressed
the importance of Beirut and the educational TV project, saying he thought
it worth doing anything the U.S. could do to see that TV is channeled
there through American aegis; that it was most desirable for the political
integration of the area.
After the departure of Messrs. Allen and Dorsey, discussion
brought out ICA1s need for a fully staffed position from the State Depart-
ment based on Mr. Allents remarks. as to the political desirability of the
Beirut project. The following query was therefore addressed to the State
Department representative: Does the political situation in Lebanon warrant
reentry of ICA with funds to increase the scope of participation in the
establishment of an educational TV station in Beirut?
3. With reference to the proposals in Saigon Despatch No. 375, COBAT
at its July 5 meeting decided to postpone final consideration until ICA
had supplied further information on the status of the Missionts facilities,
and until the separate despatch promised by the Mission on the subject of
installation of a big transmitter had been received. Meanwhile, a message
which contained no mention of the transmitter problem was sent to Saigon
through the OCB country working group,, The Staff Representative agreed
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to draft a follow-up telegram requesting the despatch promised by the 25XIC10b
Mission.
4. A draft progress report on NSC #169 was next considered. This
draft included wherever possible the language of the report dated
February 1, 1956 which was approved by the Board Assistants and the
Board, and transmitted to the NSC, but never considered by the Council.
The Staff Representative supplied the background on OCB reporting to the
NSC on international broadcasting, explaining that 0CB had decided to
submit a new report, consolidating and bringing up to date the previous
report, rather than have the NSC take up a report six months old. In
view of the fact that the draft is to be reviewed at TPIB at its meeting
August 2, COBAT agreed to finalize the report at its next meeting, for
consideration by the Board Assistants August 17. Suggested draft changes
are to be coordinated through the 0CB staff,
5. The Defense representative made an inquiry of COBAT as to
whether any agency (such as ICA) has the authority for making payments
to foreign performing rights societies for music performances and copy-
rights claims. The members agreed to consult their respective agencies
on this problem before the next meeting.
6. The next meeting will be held Monday,. August 6, at 2 P.M.
Ralpi R. Busick
Staff Representative
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030008-8