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Spotlight on Spending
$300 Million for a Broadcast to Cuba That Nobody Hears
November 23, 2009
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, recently introduced the Control Spending Now Act, legislation to reduce the deficit by more than one half trillion dollars. The legislation is made up of more than 40 proposals to cut the record deficit, which currently stands at $1.42 trillion. To highlight examples of things Congress can do to reduce the deficit, Feingold launched a "Spotlight on Spending" series to feature provisions of his legislation and help shine a light on examples of poor stewardship of American taxpayer dollars.
Spotlight on Spending: Radio and TV Martí
"This relic of the Cold War attempts to broadcast radio and TV signals into Cuba that virtually no one tunes in to," Feingold said. "Government studies show that Radio and TV Martí are riddled with problems, and fall short of journalistic standards. As we progress toward a more modern and constructive relationship with Cuba, Radio and TV Martí no longer have any real diplomatic or fiscal purpose. I plan to bring up this issue when the Senate takes up President Obama’s recently announced nominees to the Broadcasting Board of Governors."
Deficit Reduction: $300 million over ten years
What it is: Launched in 1983 under President Reagan with the intention of helping take down Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, Radio Martí is a U.S.-funded, 24-hour radio program directed at Cuba. In 1990, TV Martí was established for the same purposes. Radio and TV Martí are operated by the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) under the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees U.S. government broadcasting.
Why it is wasteful: The Radio and TV Martí programs are wasteful for reasons both operational and political.
A January 2009 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that Radio and TV Martí broadcasts face jamming by the Cuban government. According to the GAO, the best available research suggests that the audience for Radio and TV Martí is small, and its effectiveness uncertain. BBG's International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) also found that Radio Martí fails to meet certain journalistic standards, "particularly in the areas of balance and objectivity."
During a June 2009 hearing before a House Foreign Affairs Subcommitee, a GAO official testified that there is "limited information to help assess the relative success on a return of investment for each of the transmission methods." During the same hearing, John Nichols, a Professor of Communications and International Affairs at Penn State University testified that "…even if (Cubans) are opposed to the Castro government…they are going to look for more credible sources of information and entertainment."
The political environment has changed significantly since the inception of Radio and TV Martí, and President Obama's commitment to international diplomacy and dialogue offers a more effective way to engage with the people of Cuba. The Obama administration has already loosened restrictions on Cuban Americans' visits to Cuba, and the White House and Congress are considering easing travel restrictions and other ways to normalize relations.
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