COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT) 32ND MEETING HELD 2:30 P.M. DECEMBER 3 ROOM 2039 HEW BUILDING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030034-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: December 5, 1957
• Content Type: MIN

Approved For Release 2008/27: CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030-9
f 1W
SECRET
OPERATIONS COORDINATING BOARD
Washington 25, D.C.
December 5, 1957
MEMORANDUM OF MEETING: Committee on Broadcasting and Television (COBAT)
32nd Meeting held 2i30 P.M. December 3
Room 2039 HEW Building
Working Group Members Present:
USIA - Robert E. Button, Chairman
Robert A. Bauer, alternate
State - William A. McFadden
Florence T. Dowling, alternate
Arthur L. Lebel, Chairman, TPIB
ICA - Gerald Winfield
CIA - Representative present
CCB Staff - Ralph R. Busick
Marjorie Denny
Others Present'
Defense - John Broger
USIA - Gordon Ewing (for Item 2)
le The minutes of the November 1 meeting were adopted.
2. Mr. Gordon Ewing gave an oral briefing to COBAT on the work of the
Committee on Radio Broadcasting Policy* (The Chairman of COBAT is a member
of the policy committee.) Political developments in the Soviet Orbit led to
the formation of this committee which has been endeavoring to define the role
of U.S. international broadcasting? country by country. The Schramm Conference
on U.S. Broadcasting to the Soviet Orbit was hold in Paris this September under
the aegis of this committee. Although its principal effort has been the pro-
duction of country papers, the Committee has also concerned itself with
another major topic, that of the location of new broadcast facilities abroad.
It was agreed that periodic briefings would be given to COBAT in the future
to assure coordination of the work of these two committee,, inasmuch as the
OCB is responsible for the coordination of technical planning aid other
activities intended to improve the effectiveness of U.S, international broad-
casting*.
3. The ICA representative demonstrated the prototype of a transistor
receiver which has been developed to operate in the standard bands on four
flashlight batteries. This model is now being tested in Vietnam by its
designer, who is working out plans for a Vietnamese broadcasting system?
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4. Despatch No. 23 of November 12 from USIS Beirut was discussed, USIA,
Beirut has approached the Television Company of Lebanon (TCL, a private
commercial outfit which has just been established and expects to be on the
air by next November) on the possibility of providing a program director,
TCL is interested and has requested a TV program consultant (who should know
French) be sent to Beirut in January or February 1958 to assist for two weeks
in preliminary organization. TCL is also interested in having the services
of an English-speaking announcer when the station starts operating. Personnel
action on these requests for help will be coordinated by USIA through COBAT.
The Chairman asked for further study of the situation by all agencies concerned
The ICA representative explained that the only way ICA could take action would
be upon request from the Lebanese Government. The situation will be explored
by ICA before the next meeting, and in the meantime any action by USIA will
be discussed with ICA.
5. The Chairman outlined for the Committee the nature of an address to
be made to the Electronic industries Association in New York; the theme to be
television abroad as a field where the government and industry could cooperate
for mutual benefit. After the Chairman asked for members' views., the State
Department supplied clarification of the UQS. position on standards in the
event that this question arose,
6. The preliminary draft of an ICA policy statement on television,
together with a State Department position paper on television, were discussed
briefly. The ICA representative requested then reaction of the group to his
proposed policy. COBAT agreed to defer discussion on policy until the next
meeting, at which time a decision will be taken on a possible future paper
on TV for the CCB.
7. With reference to Despatch No, 145 from Kuwait dated November 180
concerning the need for TV program material., the Chairman explained that any
assistance from USIA would necessarily be considered in the relation to the
political objectives toward the area concerned,,
8. The next meeting will be at the call of the Chairman,
Ralph R. Busick
Staff Representative
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030034-9