DEAR JOHN:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00803R000200200001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 20, 1998
• Content Type: LETTER

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WY-9009
22 February 1979
Chief
Operations Group, FBIS
Dear John:
This report will serve a dual purpose. First it is a
somewhat belated reply to your note of 8 August 1978 requesting
a status report on the Bureau. Secondly, it will serve as
STAT
ry and hopefully will provide some guidance to STAT
~~ 51H1
Before launching into a discussion of Bureau problems and
prospects, at the risk of appearing immodest, I should state that
I believe the Bureau to be in excellent shape. I foresee no major
problems looming on the horizon but, on the other hand, there is
always room for improvement.
Below, I will attempt to describe the status of the Bureau,
and those projects which I would have pushed were I to have
remained here.
1. Coverage
Through initiatives be by our predecessors and continued
principally by Engineer the Bureau's. reception STAT
capabilities have been improved significantly. The most significant
gains have been achieved by the installation at the ANTELCO Receive
Site of a rhanbic antenna targetted towards Peru and Bolivia.
Reception of Bolivian stations has improved 100% and Peruvian
stations by about 50%. The relocation of the dipole antenna to the
Embassy has improved reception to some degree. We had hoped that
the double-ending of ANTELCO's Hamburg rhombic antenna would substan-
tially improve reception of Chilean stations but this has been a
disappointment. The rhombic is actually aimed at about 650 miles
south of Santiago evi far off center to improve the signal. STAT
During his tenure here 7"7has also experimented with the
NLA-2B miniloop, the Highgain 40 meter beam and the Hermes Loop
antennas. The miniloop and Highgain antennas were found to be
inferior to the dipole whereas the Hermes does appear to have some
potential and remains installed at the ANTELOD Receive Site.
2/...
ADMINISTRA1i r E v -i'E'i W L S"L" UK IV
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At present, the signals from the ANTELCQ Receive Site are
being transmitted to the Bureau by the single channel Motorola
transeiver. Ed has significantly improved the transeiver and with
the antenna selector we are now able to choose from 8 different
antennas at the receive site, but we are obviously limited to the
use of one antenna at any given moment. The rhombic antenna for
example is often tied up with Peruvian casts and cannot be used
for Bolivian casts. This problem will be eliminated with the
installation of the new microwave system. We are expecting to
receive all of the parts for the new microwave system by early May.
The installation of the system should be Ed's. last major project
and I fully expect it to be in operation before he leaves. This
system will initially have six channels but could be expanded if
need be. Three channels will be placed in monitor booths, two in
central radio, and one in the cruising room. This should provide
us with the greatest operational flexibility. We do not want the
system to depend completely upon the technicians to feed the
programs but on the other hand we do want the ability to feed into
e of the ten monitoring booths.
The present antenna system is good but could be better. Reception
of Peruvian stations, though improved, is still not satisfactory.
Chilean reception still remains variable. Ed feels that the only
other conventional antenna which might improve reception of
Chilean stations would be a rhombic antenna aimed directly at
Santiago. I have included such a proposal in the 1981 budget. In
regard to Peru we see. m to be at the end of our conventional rope.
Remote systems for Chilean and Peruvian cover a have been
discussed in Headquarters from time to time. recently STAT
installed a radio/telephone plug-in system. at the Marine desk in the
American Embassy in Santiago. The radio will be turned on and tuned
by the Marine guard under telephonic instruction from the Bureau. The
system has been tested and the signal is good although totally
dependent on the telephone connection. This system admittedly has
its limitations especially during periods of real crisis when the
Marine guards are apt to be too busy to help us, but for speeches and
special events the system should give us much better copy. The
system which only requires the support of the Embassy and an AM/FM
radio is dirt cheap in comparison to a full remote system (which also
is dependent on telephones or on very expensive satellite voice
circuits) and can be installed almost immediately. If the Chilean
system is the success we expect I suggest that the same setup be
extended to Lima. This does not rule out the need to install a true
remote system but in the meantime it does give us expanded capabilities.
3/...
ADMINISTRATIVE - I iTEl TAI CUB
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Newspapers continue to be a principal staple of Paraguay
Bureau's coverage. Newspapers from Argentina, Brazil and of course
Paraguay arrive the same day and Bolivian papers with the lag of a
day or two. Peruvian papers are covered by Panama Bureau. The only
papers not received on a regular basis are Uruguayan and Chilean
papers. We have made occasional efforts. to secure Uruguayan papers
but without success. The loss of these papers is not great since
they are heavily censured and contain little reportable news. The
lack of Chilean publications, particularly the daily El Mercurio,
is of greater concern. We are continuing our efforts both with the
American Embassy in Santiago and with the Chilean Embassy and
newspaper distributors in Asuncion in the hope of establishing a
reliable system.`
During my tenure several changes in press agency coverage
were made. LATIN had been covered by the Bureau when it was being
transmitted via HF but when they switched to landline the Bureau
lost out. The Bureau was recently included under Panama's contract
and once again is covering it. The Bureau switched from AFP
Portuguese to AFP Spanish when the latter was found to be far more
productive. No Brazilian Press Agency is on Bureau coverage and this
I consider a lack. To our knowledge none uses HF transmissions nor
landlines into Asuncion. We are still awaiting a reply from the
Brazilian Embassy to our query about the various press agencies.
I also intend to send a query to the PAD in Brasilia.
In a few weeks the Bureau will receive its fixst television
set and rotaby antenna. This has been secured largely for
experimental purposes. We are confident that the Argentine and
Paraguayan channels can be heard but we are also hopeful that
Brazilian TV can be picked up from the Foz de Iguaqu. Paraguay
television carries a news program at 2000 which may be added to
coverage. Initially the Bureau will concentrate on recording the audio
portion but if the video looks promising a request for recording
equipment will be in order.
In response to a request from Headquarters I had previously
submitted a suggestion concerning the transfer of coverage from
Panama to Paraguay Bureau. In effect I proposed the transfer of all
Moscow casts in Spanish; AFP in French; and possibly rather press
services such as some PRELA circuits. I still believe it is a
suggestion that should be studied very closely.
4/...
ADMINISTRATIVE - I fEiSL
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One of the problems in assuming this coverage is the fact
that the Paraguay Bureau is only open for 11 shifts per week and
some of these casts have to be covered every day of the week. Whei
is replaced by an editor in July 1979 it is possible that
the Bureau hours could be expanded. At that time I would strongly
consider adding a second shift an Saturdays and very likely one
shift on Sundays. Although the Spanish speaking countries in our
coverage area have practically no significant newscasts on Sunday,
Brazil does and they might be well worth covering. I believe the
Bureau has sufficient monitors (ten) to cover the added shifts
(but not if any coverage were transferred from Panama). However,
three technicians would be insufficient. Pbre on this subject
below. The expansion of Bureau hours is a topic which I feel de-
serves careful study by Dauris.
2. Personnel
One of the mast pleasant surprises I encountered here was the
very high caliber of the Bureau Employees. During my tenure I have
continued to be impressed by the dedication, loyalty, and professio-
nalism of the entire staff. I feel truly proud to have had the
opportunity to be associated with such a group.
Prior to the move to the new building a number of the person-
nel expressed.misgivings about the new quarters, citing the loss of
the swinming pool and the stiff formality of the Embassy as their
major complaints. Since the move these misgivings have all but eva-
porated and morale seems even higher than before. The new office
is contributing to greater efficiency and is a very pleasant place
in which to work. Moreover, each monitor has his or her separate
monitoring booth and no longer has to share with others. Because the
building is separate from the chancery FBIS personnel are under no
compulsion to mix with Embassy personnel and can continue follow an
informal dress code.
I believe that in general, the monitors have made considerable
strides during the past 18 nxmths. They appear to have a good grasp
of the FBIS mission and are responsive to our needs. The quality
of their translations has also improved substantially. There is
always room for improvement in both sectors and I believe that Joe
should concentrate on developing a systematic review and
Zee of the monitors' program. summaries and translations. This
is exceedingly difficult to accompli$h as long as Joe has to pull
a shift five times a week but once the third editor arrives he will
have time to devote to this essential task. Most of the monitors
have been with FBIS roughly five years. At this juncture in their
careers they have a good :Tgrasp of the job essentials but could
all use polishing. In addition, it is now essential to train the
more promising monitors as shift supervisors and one as an eventual
chief monitor. If the monitors are not given in-depth training and
assistance at this very critical period in their careers they are
very apt to develop ingrained sloppy habits.
5/...
STAT
STAT
AUM IRTRATIUF - P-1 'FR '~" d
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