Voice of America (VOA) Morrocco Relay Station to Close
 

Announcement by the International Broadcasting Bureau,
November 2, 2007:

"The IBB transmitting station in Morocco will cease
operations in March 2008, and the facility will be
returned to the Government of Morocco by the end of
next year. The rising cost of operating the Morocco
station prompted this decision.

The closing will not reduce the number of hours of
radio programming currently broadcast by shortwave:
All programs currently broadcast from the Morocco
station will continue to be broadcast, either from
other IBB facilities or through lease arrangements.

Employees affected by the move will receive appropriate
severance compensation within the scope of U.S. Embassy
agreements. The outstanding work of these Moroccan
station employees on behalf of U.S. international
broadcasting is greatly appreciated."

From "A Technical History of the VOA Network,"
International Broadcasting Bureau, October 25, 1995,
Page 4-10:

"Morocco has ten 500 KW autotuned, shortwave broadcast
transmitters manufactured by Marconi Electronics Inc.
It has space for two additional 500 KWs.

The 500 KW transmitters, which are twice as efficient
as older existing VOA transmitters, are the first VOA
transmitters designed for reduced power, reduced
carrier and single sideband operation.

This 1,147-acre facility is located about seven miles
from the old Tangier Relay Station now operated by the
Moroccan government.

The new station delivers VOA programs to Eastern Europe,
Western Soviet Union, Middle East, Southwest Asia, and
West and Central Africa. The U.S. government accepted
the transmitter areas for occupancy on June 7, 1990."

The BBG's FY 08 budget request says that the annual
operational cost of Morocco is $12,904,000 and in the
plan, the Board proposed to reduce it by $2,645,000 this
year.

The decision to close it altogether must have been signed
off in consultation with Congress.

This will leave only 50 VOA/IBB shortwave and medium wave
transmitters worldwide by mid 2008.

Currently pending in the US House of Representatives is a
bill sponsored by Representative Betty McCollum of
Minnesota (HR 3598) entitled the Voice of Freedom Act of
2007.

It would "prohibit the cessation, degradation, or limitation
of broadcasting activities by the Broadcasting Board of
Governors" and specifically seeks retention of the Delano
Relay Station in California that relayed its last broadcast
(in Thai to East Asia) on October 27, 2007.

It appears that the Broadcasting Board of Governors is
attempting to gut VOA's broadcasting abilities on medium
wave and shortwave before Representative Betty McCollum's
Voice of Freedom Act of 2007 can be considered.

Old Marconi Transmitters force closure of Voice of America (VOA) Morrocco Relay Station
 

Old Marconi Transmitters force closure of Voice of America (VOA) Morrocco
Relay Station.

The Marconi transmitters would have been replaced by 500 kw transmitters
from RIZ or Grass Vally / Thales ... but the US is not able to take care of
itself.

Even the most basic funding arrangements to update these transmitters are
more or less totally beyond the current US Goverment's capabilities.


Announcement by the International Broadcasting Bureau,
November 2, 2007:

"The IBB transmitting station in Morocco will cease
operations in March 2008, and the facility will be
returned to the Government of Morocco by the end of
next year. The rising cost of operating the Morocco
station prompted this decision.
[...]
"Morocco has ten 500 KW autotuned, shortwave broadcast
transmitters manufactured by Marconi Electronics Inc.
It has space for two additional 500 KWs.

The 500 KW transmitters, which are twice as efficient
as older existing VOA transmitters, are the first VOA
transmitters designed for reduced power, reduced
carrier and single sideband operation.

This 1,147-acre facility is located about seven miles
from the old Tangier Relay Station now operated by the
Moroccan government.

Voice of America (VOA) Morrocco Relay Station to Close
 

On Nov 25, 5:07 pm, SWLer wrote:
Announcement by the International Broadcasting Bureau,
November 2, 2007:

"The IBB transmitting station in Morocco will cease
operations in March 2008, and the facility will be
returned to the Government of Morocco by the end of
next year. The rising cost of operating the Morocco
station prompted this decision.

The closing will not reduce the number of hours of
radio programming currently broadcast by shortwave:
All programs currently broadcast from the Morocco
station will continue to be broadcast, either from
other IBB facilities or through lease arrangements.

Employees affected by the move will receive appropriate
severance compensation within the scope of U.S. Embassy
agreements. The outstanding work of these Moroccan
station employees on behalf of U.S. international
broadcasting is greatly appreciated."

From "A Technical History of the VOA Network,"
International Broadcasting Bureau, October 25, 1995,
Page 4-10:

"Morocco has ten 500 KW autotuned, shortwave broadcast
transmitters manufactured by Marconi Electronics Inc.
It has space for two additional 500 KWs.

The 500 KW transmitters, which are twice as efficient
as older existing VOA transmitters, are the first VOA
transmitters designed for reduced power, reduced
carrier and single sideband operation.

This 1,147-acre facility is located about seven miles
from the old Tangier Relay Station now operated by the
Moroccan government.

The new station delivers VOA programs to Eastern Europe,
Western Soviet Union, Middle East, Southwest Asia, and
West and Central Africa. The U.S. government accepted
the transmitter areas for occupancy on June 7, 1990."

The BBG's FY 08 budget request says that the annual
operational cost of Morocco is $12,904,000 and in the
plan, the Board proposed to reduce it by $2,645,000 this
year.

The decision to close it altogether must have been signed
off in consultation with Congress.

This will leave only 50 VOA/IBB shortwave and medium wave
transmitters worldwide by mid 2008.

Currently pending in the US House of Representatives is a
bill sponsored by Representative Betty McCollum of
Minnesota (HR 3598) entitled the Voice of Freedom Act of
2007.

It would "prohibit the cessation, degradation, or limitation
of broadcasting activities by the Broadcasting Board of
Governors" and specifically seeks retention of the Delano
Relay Station in California that relayed its last broadcast
(in Thai to East Asia) on October 27, 2007.

It appears that the Broadcasting Board of Governors is
attempting to gut VOA's broadcasting abilities on medium
wave and shortwave before Representative Betty McCollum's
Voice of Freedom Act of 2007 can be considered.


VOA (US) Morocco Shortwave Radio Station Will Close
http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0100/t.9704.html
* "The closing will not reduce the number of hours of
radio programming currently broadcast by shortwave,"
* "All programs currently broadcast from the Morocco
station will continue to be broadcast, either from
other IBB facilities or through lease arrangements."

~ RHF