GOV 381 Case Study 3

Events

Cuba submits inventory to International Telecommunications Union- plans for two radio stations trasmitting 500 kilowatts

1979

Cuba's internal social order was insecure-economy damaged, increasing popular discontent

1980

House establishes Radio Marti as a service; approves HR 5427

August 10, 1981

Cuba announces intention to to shift the frequencies of its 500 kW stations to 1040 kHz and 1160 kHz-threat to US commercial broadcasts

August 22, 1981

President Reagan signed Executive Order 12323 to establish the Presidential Commission on Broadcasting to Cuba

September 22, 1981

Reagan introduces proposed legislation to establish Radio Marti

February 2, 1982

Cuba announces intention to move forward with plans for two 500 kw stations and broadcast on 1040 kW

August 30, 1982

Cuban broadcasts disrupted WHO on 1040 kHz in Des Moines, Iowa and KSL on 1160 kHz in Salt Lake City, Utah, and several other stations

August 30, 1982

Senate Committee modifies Radio Marti legislation and reported it out of committee

September 9, 1982

SoS Shultz as for briefings on countermeasures

September 10, 1982

Senate declined by voice vote to take up the legislation

December 21, 1982

House member Dante Fascell passes the bill out of his committee, but NAB sent out another more moderate bill. Stalemate.

January 3, 1983

NSC staffers Menges and Lenczoski express preference for military countermeasures should Cuba disrupt US broadcasting

April 5, 1983

Senior officials tell commercial broadcasters that forty options are available as countermeasures

May 7, 1983

Reagan administration attempts to respond to the NAB's concerns by engaging the Cubans in negotiations- no agreement

August 1, 1983

Senate shifts responsibility for Radio Marti to Voice of America and changed the frequency to avoid 1180 and 1040 kHZ disruption

September 13, 1983

Senate votes approving amended legislation detailed above

September 13, 1983

Reagan signs the bill into law

October 4, 1983

Skoug mentions at the Situation Room that reprisals must be ready if Cubans retaliate

December 19, 1983

Cuban Vice President Carlos Rafael Rodriguez labels Radio Marti as "another US aggression" and indicates that "Cuban counter-broadcasting would be in proportion to the tone of Radio Marti Programming"

March 1, 1984