New Law Would Reorganize VOA

Control over U.S. government international broadcasting will be consolidated under a powerful chief executive, under legislation expected to soon be signed by President Barack Obama.

The changes were included as part of an annual defense funding bill, the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, which was passed last week by both houses of Congress.

Full story at :

http://www.voanews.com/a/new-law-would-reorganize-voa-other-us-government/3635977.html

Radio Free Asia releases 3rd QSL in IBB transmitter series

 

                                RFA's 3rd IBB transmitter site QSL – IBB Iranawila, Sri Lanka 

Radio Free Asia (RFA) announces the release of the third QSL card in the series highlighting the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) transmitter sites used for RFA programming. RFA programs broadcast from the following IBB sites: Biblis, Iranawila, Kuwait, Lampertheim, Saipan and Tinian. IBB's Iranawila transmitter site in Sri Lanka is equipped with four 500 kW and three 250 kW transmitters. All seven of these transmitters broadcast at a power level of 250 kW in carrying out the station's mission, which includes broadcasting RFA's Burmese programming on shortwave. This is RFA's 54th QSL overall and will be used to confirm all valid RFA reception reports from July 1-August 31, 2014.

 

RFA is a private, nonprofit corporation that broadcasts news and information to listeners in Asian countries where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable. Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin (including the Wu dialect), Vietnamese, Tibetan (Uke, Amdo, and Kham), and Uyghur. RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a 'surrogate' broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest. More information about Radio Free Asia, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is available at www.rfa.org.

 

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener. RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at http://techweb.rfa.org (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX'ers, but also from its general listening audience. 

 

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org and by mail to:

 

Reception Reports

Radio Free Asia

2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300

Washington DC 20036

United States of America.

 

(Via Andrew "A.J." Janitschek, Radio Free Asia)

At IBB, a Call for Rejuvenation

by Paul McLane
If you're a tech manager in a bureaucracy, you'll appreciate the headaches that confront engineers at the International Broadcasting Bureau.

Full story at :
http://www.rwonline.com/article/at-ibb-a-call-for-rejuvenation/23858

QSL from IBB Thailand

Received a QSL card from IBB Thailand for an emailed report + audio file in 8 days for Radio Farda txn on 21715 kHz

IBB names Andre V. Mendes Director of Engineering

Washington, DC, 01/07/2010
Andre V. Mendes has been named Director of Engineering and Technical Services for the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), effective December 21, 2009. The IBB provides engineering support for the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which encompasses the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB).

Mendes is responsible for overseeing the management of the Agency's complex network of engineering and technical systems used to distribute programming worldwide over radio, television, the Internet and new media. Mendes will lead the development and enhancement of delivery strategies for BBG transmitting stations, digital satellite systems, and information technology functions, to meet the fast-changing needs of BBG?s global audience.

Mendes most recently served as senior vice president, strategic planning and global CIO, for Special Olympics International, managing the organization's global technology infrastructure, the development of the 2011-2015 Special Olympics Strategic Plan and administering the Christmas Record Trust Fund.

Previously he served as Chief Technology Integration Officer for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), where he was responsible for both Information Technology and Broadcast Engineering during the Service's $1.8 billion transition to digital television and managed PBS' migration from a legacy tape-based environment to a ground breaking, entirely file-driven content workflow. Earlier in his career, Mendes was a technology and business-development executive for several start-up companies in the health-care and bio-technology arenas.

As a globally recognized thought leader in the convergence of media and information technology, Mendes has received numerous industry awards for his work, including one of the 2008 MIT Awards for IT Innovation. Mendes holds a degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland University College. Under the supervision of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) provides the administrative and engineering support for U.S. government-funded civilian international broadcasting.

(BBG Press Release)

Launch of HCJB/IBB DRM trial broadcasts on August 17

The HCJB Global Technology Center, based in Elkhart, IN, USA in cooperation with the International Broadcasting Bureau, will begin a series of digital broadcast test transmissions on shortwave starting on August 17. The demonstration broadcasts are using IBB transmission facilities on the east coast of the USA and a DRM exciter and content server developed by the HCJB Global Technology Center. The broadcasts are operating at an average DRM power of approximately 8 kW using a rhombic antenna aimed at 45 degrees on 15475 kHz from 2000 to 2200 UTC for reception in Europe and a log periodic antenna aimed at 306 degrees on 9405 kHz from 0000 to 0400 UTC for reception in North America. The broadcasts are expected to continue for at least several weeks. Reception reports can be emailed to ibbhcjb@gmail.com Please visit www.hcjb.org/tech for more information on the work of the HCJB Global Technology Center.

(Charles Jacobson, HCJB Global Technology Center via drmna yg)

ALERT - SCHEDULE CHANGE: Due to some personnel limitations in Greenville the trail broadcast will not begin until Tuesday, August 18. Just trying build anticipation.

(Charles Jacobson via drmna yg)