Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act Public Law 98–111, as amended 97 Stat. 749, as amended Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act 111 105–277 Statute Compilation United States House of Representatives Office of the Legislative Counsel text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. GPO Statute Compilations USLM converter, version 20210527.1 2021-10-15 Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act 1087 98 1983-10-04 Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act [(Public Law 98–111, 97 Stat. 749, approved October 4, 1983)]

Note.—The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–114; 110 Stat. 798 and 809) provides the following:

``SEC. 107. [22 U.S.C. 6037] TELEVISION BROADCASTING TO CUBA.

``(a) Conversion to UHF.—The Director of the International Broadcasting Bureau shall implement a conversion of television broadcasting to Cuba under the Television Marti Service to ultra high frequency (UHF) broadcasting.

``(b) Periodic Reports.—Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every three months thereafter until the conversion described in subsection (a) is fully implemented, the Director of the International Broadcasting Bureau shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the progress made in carrying out subsection (a).

``(c) Termination of Broadcasting Authorities.—Upon transmittal of a determination under section 203(c)(3), the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act (22 U.S.C. 1465aa and following) and the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act (22 U.S.C. 1465 and following) are repealed.''.

* * * * * * *

``SEC. 203. [22 U.S.C. 6063] COORDINATION OF ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: IMPLEMENTATION AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS; REPROGRAMMING. * * *

``(c) Implementaiton of Plan; Reports to Congress.—* * *

``(3) Implementation with respect to democratically elected government.—The President shall, upon determining that a democratically elected government in Cuba is in power, submit that determination to the appropriate congressional committees and shall, subject to an authorization of appropriations and subject to the availability of appropriations, commence the delivery and distribution of assistance to such democratically elected government under the plan developed under section 202(b).''.

 [As Amended Through P.L. 105–277, Enacted October 21, 1998] [Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Public Law 98–111. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/] [Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
AN ACTTo provide for the broadcasting of accurate information to the people of Cuba, and for other purposes.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[22 U.S.C. 1465 note] That this Act may be cited as the “Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act”.
findings; purposes Sec. 2. [22 U.S.C. 1465] The Congress finds and declares— (1) that it is the policy of the United States to support the right of the people of Cuba to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers, in accordance with article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; (2) that, consonant with this policy, radio broadcasting to Cuba may be effective in furthering the open communication of accurate information and ideas to the people of Cuba, in particular information about Cuba; (3) that such broadcasting to Cuba, operated in a manner not inconsistent with the broad foreign policy of the United States and in accordance with high professional standards, would be in the national interest; and (4) that the Voice of America already broadcasts to Cuba information that represents America, not any single segment of American society, and includes a balanced and comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions but that there is a need for broadcasts to Cuba which provide news, commentary and other information about events in Cuba and elsewhere to promote the cause of freedom in Cuba.
additional functions of the Broadcasting Board of Governors Sec. 3. [22 U.S.C. 1465a] (a) In order to carry out the objectives set forth in section 2, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (hereafter in this Act referred to as the “Board”) shall provide for the open communication of information and ideas through the use of radio broadcasting to Cuba. Radio broadcasting to Cuba shall serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of accurate, objective, and comprehensive news. (b) Radio broadcasting in accordance with subsection (a) shall be part of the Voice of America radio broadcasting to Cuba and shall be in accordance with all Voice of America standards to ensure the broadcast of programs which are objective, accurate, balanced, and which present a variety of views. (c) Radio broadcasting to Cuba authorized by this Act shall utilize the broadcasting facilities located at Marathon, Florida, and the 1180 AM frequency that were used by the Voice of America prior to the date of enactment of this Act. Other frequencies, not on the commercial Amplitude Modulation (AM) Band (535 kHz to 1605 kHz), may also be simultaneously utilized: Provided, That no frequency shall be used for radio broadcasts to Cuba in accordance with this Act which is not also used for all other Voice of America broadcasts to Cuba. Time leased from nongovernmental shortwave radio stations may be used to carry all or part of the Service programs and to rebroadcast Service programs: Provided, That not less than 30 per centum of the programs broadcast or rebroadcast shall be regular Voice of America broadcasts with particular emphasis on news and programs meeting the requirements of section 503(2) of Public Law 80–402. (d) Notwithstanding subsection (c), in the event that broadcasts to Cuba on the 1180 AM frequency are subject to jamming or interference greater by 25 per centum or more than the average daily jamming or interference in the twelve months preceding September 1, 1983, the Broadcasting Board of Governors may lease time on commercial or noncommercial educational AM band radio broadcasting stations. The Federal Communications Commission shall determine levels of jamming and interference by conducting regular monitoring of the 1180 AM frequency. In the event that more than two hours a day of time is leased, not less than 30 per centum of the programing broadcast shall be regular Voice of America broadcasts with particular emphasis on news and programs meeting the requirements of section 503(2) of Public Law 80–402. (e) Any program of United States Government radio broadcasts to Cuba authorized by this section shall be designated “Voice of America: Cuba Service” or “Voice of America: Radio Marti program”. (f) In the event broadcasting facilities located at Marathon, Florida, are rendered inoperable by natural disaster or by unlawful destruction, the Broadcasting Board of Governors may, for the period in which the facilities are inoperable but not to exceed one hundred and fifty days, use other United States Government-owned transmission facilities for Voice of America broadcasts to Cuba authorized by this Act.
cuba service of the voice of america Sec. 4. [22 U.S.C. 1465b] The Broadcasting Board of Governors shall establish within the International Broadcasting Bureau a Cuba Service (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Service”). The Service shall be responsible for all radio broadcasts to Cuba authorized by section 3. The Broadcasting Board of Governors shall appoint a head of the Service and shall employ such staff as the head of the Service may need to carry out his duties. The Cuba Service shall be administered separately from other Voice of America functions and the head of the Cuba Service shall report directly to the Board1 of the International Broadcasting Bureau.1

So in original. There is no Board of the International Broadcasting Bureau.
advisory board for cuba broadcasting Sec. 5. [22 U.S.C. 1465c] (a) There is established within the Office of the President the Advisory Board for Cuba Broadcasting (in this division referred to as the “Advisory Board”). The Advisory Board shall consist of nine members, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, of whom not more than five shall be members of the same political party. The President shall designate one member of the Board to serve as chairperson. (b) The Board shall review the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Act and the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act shall make such recommendations to the President and the Broadcasting Board of Governors as it may consider necessary. (c) In appointing the initial voting members of the Board, the President shall designate three members to serve for a term of three years, three members to serve for a term of two years, and three members to serve for a term of one year. Thereafter, the term of each member of the Board shall be three years. The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, members to fill vacancies occurring prior to the expiration of a term, in which case the members so appointed shall serve for the remainder of such term. Any member whose term has expired may serve until his successor has been appointed and qualified. (d) The head of the Cuba Service and the head of the Television Marti Service shall serve, ex officio, as members of the Board. (e) Members of the Board appointed by the President shall, while attending meetings of the Board or while engaged in duties relating to such meetings or in other activities of the Board pursuant to this section, including traveltime, be entitled to receive compensation equal to the daily equivalent of the compensation prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. While away from their homes or regular places of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5703) for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. The ex officio members of the Board shall not be entitled to any compensation under this section, but may be allowed travel expenses as provided in the preceding sentence. (f) The Board may, to the extent it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this section, procure supplies, services, and other personal property, including specialized electronic equipment. (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Board shall remain in effect indefinitely. (h) There are authorized to be appropriated $130,000 to carry out the provisions of this section.
assistance from other government agencies Sec. 6. [22 U.S.C. 1465d] (a) In order to assist the Broadcasting Board of Governors in carrying out the purposes set forth in section 2, any agency or instrumentality of the United States may sell, loan, lease, or grant property (including interests therein) and may perform administrative and technical support and services at the request of the Board. Support and services shall be provided on a reimbursable basis. Any reimbursement shall be credited to the appropriation from which the property, support, or services was derived. (b) The Board may carry out the purposes of section 3 by means of grants, leases, or contracts (subject to the availability of appropriations), or such other means as the Board determines will be most effective.
facility compensation Sec. 7. [22 U.S.C. 1465e] (a) It is the intent of the Congress that the Secretary of State should seek prompt and full settlement of United States claims against the Government of Cuba arising from Cuban interference with broadcasting in the United States. Pending the settlement of these claims, it is appropriate to provide some interim assistance to the United States broadcasters who are adversely affected by Cuban radio interference and who seek to assert their right to measures to counteract the effects of such interference. (b) Accordingly, the Board may make payments to the United States radio broadcasting station licensees upon their application for expenses which they have incurred before, on or after the date of this Act in mitigating, pursuant to special temporary authority from the Federal Communications Commission, the effects of activities by the Government of Cuba which directly interfere with the transmission or reception of broadcasts by these licensees. Such expenses shall be limited to the costs of equipment replaced (less depreciation) and associated technical and engineering costs. (c) The Federal Communications Commission shall issue such regulations and establish such procedures for carrying out this section as the Federal Communications Commission finds appropriate. Such regulations shall be issued no later than one hundred and eighty days after enactment of this Act. (d) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Board, $5,000,000 for use in compensating United States radio broadcasting licensees pursuant to this section. Amounts appropriated under this section are authorized to be available until expended. (e) Funds appropriated for implementation of this section shall be available for a period of no more than four years following the initial broadcast occurring as a result of programs described in this Act. (f) It is the sense of the Congress that the President should establish a task force to analyze the level of interference from the operation of Cuban radio stations experienced by broadcasters in the United States and to seek a practical political and technical solution to this problem. (g) This section shall enter into effect on October 1, 1984.
authorization of appropriations Sec. 8. [22 U.S.C. 1465f] (a) There are authorized to be appropriated for the Broadcasting Board of Governors $14,000,000 for fiscal year 1984, and $11,000,000 for fiscal year 1985 to carry out sections 3 and 4 of this Act. The amount obligated by the Broadcasting Board of Governors in ensuing fiscal years shall be sufficient to maintain broadcasts to Cuba under this Act at rates no less than the fiscal year 1985 level. (b) In addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the Board for the fiscal years 1984 and 1985, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Board $54,800,000 for the fiscal year 1984 and $54,800,000 for the fiscal year 1985, which amounts shall be available only for expenses incurred by essential modernization of the facilities and operations of the Voice of America. (c) Amounts appropriated under this section are authorized to be made available until expended.
Sec. 9. * * *[Repealed—1994]