DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-107, July 4, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1138: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1138.html (ONDEMAND from July 5) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html FIRST BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, on 7445-USB, 15038.6 HOLIDAY SPECIAL PROGRAMMING: much has been compiled, mostly webcast and TV for July 4-5+ at http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Have You Recently Said Thanks? How often the vast majority of us neglect, forget or procrastinate saying thank you to those of our fellows who make contributions to the radio hobby that make it immensely more enjoyable for us. For example, Marie Lamb and Glen[n] Hauser. Just to single out two of the many. Marie does a tidbits from HCJB's DX Partyline every week and it is posted on the HCI web site. I wonder how many of you bother to read it? She is a quiet and unassuming person, not interested in glory, but appreciative of thanks. Of course, this is but one example of the many things she does on a regular basic for the hobby. The most obvious being DXing With Cumbre on WHRI, of course. Glen[n] Hauser works hard in his 'retirement' to provide listeners around the world with very helpful and timely bits of radio news covering a wide variety of hobby areas. Certainly his contributers deserve some credit, but it is Glen[n] who puts what they send all together into a readable and structured format. His weekly radio program is also a great help to radio buffs. Now if we could just get him to spell his own name correctly! (grin)... We all benefit by sharing and caring. My personal thanks to each one of you. God bless you and on July 4th, may God bless our America. Great DX to all - (Duane Fischer, W8DBF List Admin via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. HEAD OF AFGHANISTAN'S KABUL RADIO AND TV DISMISSED | Text of report by London-based Radio Voice of Afghanistan on 2 July The head of Kabul radio and TV, Hafiz Mansoor [phonetic], has been dismissed for not broadcasting songs performed by female singers. But he has refused to accept this [the dismissal]. In today's edition, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported that yesterday Hafiz Mansoor tore up the order removing him from his post as the head of Kabul radio and TV that was sent by the minister of information and culture, Sayd Makhdum Rahin. Hafiz Mansoor said that he would leave his post only on the order of the head of the transitional government. In Kandahar, Afghanistan's second largest city, songs performed by female singers are being broadcast. But Hafiz Mansoor has stopped the broadcasting of singing by female singers on Kabul radio and TV. He is a member of the Northern Alliance Hezb-e Jamiat-e Eslami of Afghanistan [party] and was very active against the former minister for women's affairs of the interim government of Afghanistan, Sima Samar, who was accused of maligning Islam. Source: Radio Voice of Afghanistan, London, in Dari and Pashto 1330 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) HEAD OF AFGHANISTAN'S RADIO AND TELEVISION DISMISSED | Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA Kabul, 4 July: Head of Afghanistan's Radio-Television Organization Abdol Hafiz Mansur was dismissed following a suggestion by Information and Culture Minister Makhdum Rahin and an order issued by President Hamed Karzai. Hafiz Mansur's dismissal happened after many months of his dispute with the Information and Culture Minister Makhdum Rahin, who is a member of the "Rome Group" and a supporter of the former Afghan ruler Mohammad Zaher. Rahin returned to Afghanistan six months ago, following a 20 year stay in the United States. Abdol Hafiz Mansur, too, is a prominent cultural figure who has fought along the mojahedin for many years and been among the companions of the late Afghan commander of the Northern Alliance, Ahmad Shah Masud. According to the official news agency of Afghanistan, Bakhtar, President Karzai has appointed another companion of the late Ahmad Shah Masud, Mohammad Eshaq as the new head of Afghanistan's Radio-TV Organization. Eshaq's previous positions included, the managing director of Afghan News English-language daily, the managing director of the weekly publication of Afghanistan's Jamiat-e Eslami (Islamic Society) Payam-e Mojahed, and deputy aviation and tourism minister. Karzai has in the same state order appointed Azizollah Ariafar as the managing director of Afghanistan's television station. Ariafar was also the managing director of Afghanistan's TV station during the reign of the former Afghan president Borhanoddin Rabbani until the Taleban took control of the affairs in 1996 and shut down the station. In related developments, Zaher Sediq was appointed as the head of Kabul's Bayhaqi Publications, which means Hafiz Mansur has not accepted the responsibility, which was initially offered to him following his dismissal from the country's Radio-TV organization. Source: IRNA news agency, Tehran, in English 2011 gmt 3 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) AFGHAN GOVERNMENT REPLACES HEAD OF RADIO AND TELEVISION | Text of report by Afghan radio on 3 July In accordance with the recommendation of the Ministry of Information and Culture and approval of the head of the Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan, the following appointments have been made in various departments of the ministry: Engineer Mohammad Eshaq as general director of radio and television. Azizollah Ariafar as head of television broadcasts. Osman Najib as head of military broadcasts of television. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Dari 1600 gmt 3 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Freq change for RFE/RL/Radio Free Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari: 1700-1800 NF 11705, ex 11835 to avoid CRI Mandarin Ch \\ 9845, 12030, 15210, 15340 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. In regard to recent speculations about the audibility of 4810 kHz: the low signal strength in Europe should not come as a surprise. According to the HFCC registrations, this frequency is operated with 100 kW and an omnidirectional antenna (type HQ1/0.3), intended only for the greater Transcaucasus and Middle East area (CIRAF 29, 39, 40). 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The Voice of Armenia has confirmed the "new" 1600-1700 (v) broadcast in Armenian on 11685 kHz; it is a programme intended for listeners in Europe (in accordance with the HFCC registration for the A02 season). 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, July 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 1062, 4TI Thursday Island, Jun 28 1202 - Heard with Radio Australia News and sports at fair to good level. A QSL letter of three years ago informed me that that 4TI is no longer 'considered a station' by ABC and is remotely operated with only locally-produced programming in the morning. It is still exciting to hear a relay broadcast from this exotic location. 1638, 2ME Sydney , Jun 28 1226 - Noted with seeming IDs in Greek and EE as '2ME' or possibly just 'ME' at fair to poor level followed by ads and then into Greek music introed with a voice- over. (Bryant-WA) 1665, 2MM Sydney , Jun 28 1208 - Heard at fair level with rural Greek or ME music. Presumed only. (Bryant-WA) 1683.25, Radio Club AM, Sydney , Jun 28 1235 - Middle Eastern or Greek music hosted by a male announcer in pres. GK. Good level at peaks until bandfade at 1258. (Bryant-WA) 1701, 2NTC Sydney , Jun 28 1130 - Fair at peaks with rock music show hosted by male. IDed as 'NTC' and ran local ads at the half hour. (John Bryant, Grayland WA DXpedition, IRCA DX Monitor via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2310, Alice Springs, 0925-0940 with increasing strength, music, yl commentary. 2325 and 2485 both poor. Good signal under t- storms (Bob Wilkner, Margate, Florida R-75 and 10 meter ground level antenna, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. LACK OF CONSISTENCY ADDS ANGST TO MIX 4 July 2002 JEFF Kennett has become just another voice in the market There's a First Rule of everything. In real estate, it's position, position, position. In journalism, it's accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. In radio, it's consistency, consistency, consistency. The full story is available at: http://theaustralian.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,4621237%255E12280,00.html Bill Westenhaver added this note: I guess that this goes to show that even very colourful former politicians can't necessarily move over into talk radio with much of any success guaranteed. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA Previews: UT Friday, July 5 at 2105 - FEEDBACK* - listener letters and news about RA. As the ABC was celebrating its 70th anniversary on Monday, staffers at RA were celebrating the fifth anniversary of RA's "resurrection". RA Managing Director Jean-Gabriel Manguy joins Roger Broadbent and discusses the state of RA today, five years after its "near death" experience. (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) Repeats UT Sat 0005, 0605, Sun 0305 (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. R. Santa Cruz, in the place of the same name, 6134.8 heard on 21 Jun 2235-2249 at 44433 airing Spanish program for announcements, infos on the forthcoming elections, station slogans, interviews again on the plebiscite, and this seems to be the station menu for some time at least at the time I manage to hear it. Adjacent QRM only. R. Pio XII, Siglo Veinte (=20th century, an odd name for a location...), 5952.5, on 21 Jun 2236-2250 at 44433 programming consisting of relaying R Santa Cruz. Radiodifusoras Minería, Oruro, 5927, on 21 Jun 2244-2257 at 25332 in Sp w/ light songs (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. R Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista SP, 9675, heard on 23 Jun 0908-0940, i.e. when very near to fade out, at 24432 (adjacent QRM de RAI 9670), in Port, Braz. songs celebrating St. John's & St. Anthony's days (just like here in Portugal, where the former is on 13th June and the latter on 24th and finally St. Peter on the 29th!), then a mass was broadcast by which time the signal was severely attenuated (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. Morning transmissions of Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese: 2330-0030 now on 11715 (55444) via TAC 200 kW / 131 deg, ex MDC 200 kW / 055 deg; \\ 9490 (45554) via JUL 100 kW / 080 deg 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) ** CANADA. 1260, 2307-, TIS Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Jun 29. Nice strong signal at 4:07 PM local using NW Beverage antenna with English and French park/weather/marine information (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, hard-core-DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. I checked several times today and there was and, to this point in time, is, no activity on 1610 from the new Montreal station. I'm wondering if Industry Canada and the CRTC appreciated the station going ahead with some tests over the weekend without their supervision (Sheldon Harvey, QC, July 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. *** Trouble for CFBU 103.7 St. Catharines ON ... ... This just in...I'm not editing out the obvious politics. I am sweltering in my downtown Toronto office and haven't yet checked to see if it's off-air. I can only assume it is. I am off tonight to my Burnt River ON DX site to DX, but I don't get CFBU all that well either here or there, so people closer to the scene may want to try to listen to 103.7. I am terribly sad to see this happen, having been involved in community-campus radio for four years. Some of these same complaints occurred at CIUT Toronto 89.5 nearly three years ago are at the root of what the author is getting at. CIUT escaped the Bailiff but one particular faction wrested control of the station (not the side I was on). I don't have any first-hand knowledge of what went on with CFBU, but I'd *always* prefer to lose a coup than lose a licence. I can only hope that the CRTC works with the people at the station to reorganize financially and prevent that drastic step of no return. I guess this opens 103.7 in the St. Catharines area of southern Ontario (near Niagara). The only bit of luck (for me) is that I logged this for the first time from Burnt River just a few weeks ago, after years of trying. I hope it won't be the last time (Saul Chernos, Ont., ODXA via DXLD) ----- Original Message ----- From: Pam Jones Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 10:00 PM Subject: WITH GREAT SADNESS !!!! As someone who was involved with Pirate Radio in the 70's - it is with such sadness that I have to tell you that during the course of the day. Bailiffs walked into CFBU AND CLOSED THE LITTLE WHITE HOUSE THAT COULD. Most of us are aware of why this happened! There will be a candlelight vigil outside the station Sunday 14th July at 9.30 p.m. Please bring a candle and a flower to lay at the door. The forces that be have closed the voice on democracy in the Niagara Region - but our voices will never be silenced!!!!!!!!!!! Shame on those who saw fit to be quiet !!! the blood is on your hands!!!! WE ARE WHAT WE DO !!! In solidarity. Please pass on (via Saul Chernos, July 4, ODXA via DXLD) URL for Brock University Radio is http://www.cfbu.niagara.com/ Apparently they are $20,000 in the hole. There are some details about the situation on the web page...there has been a struggle for some time up there, I don`t know all the facts, but an occasional read of the student newspaper leads me to believe there have been some sort of turf wars between the station, the newspaper and the students` union. Many years ago the union ran into huge debts, 10s of thousands of dollars and for many years the university was monitoring them closely. When I was accepted to Brock in 1979, I believe the student union debt was $40,000. That year a new council was elected and they brought in a video game...asteroids or something; they added more and more of these games and paid off the debt in little more than a year! I know there was some grumbling about the mandatory fee per course charged to students for CFBU operations. I will endeavour to find out more. Being line of sight to the school, CFBU put a killer signal in here...too bad, it was sometimes interesting to listen to. I can confirm that CFBU is off the air (Fred Waterer, Ont., ODXA via DXLD) ** CHILE. Hi friends, Pls, reach to Radio Parinacota [6010] via this e-mail: rparinacota@latinmail.com 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, July 3, dxing.info via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de tu Conciencia quiere recibir informes de recepción En respuesta a mi pregunta, el director de la emisora Russell M Stendal me dice que los informes de recepción relativos a "La Voz de tu Conciencia", 6064.5 podrán ser enviados a la emisora a/c de la Libería Colombia para Cristo, cuya dirección es como sigue: Carrera 44 No. 13-69, Bogotá, D. C., Colombia. Están preparando ahora el material que pretenden enviar a los que les envíen informes de recepción. Mientras tanto, continúan en fase de prueba, y tratándose de un antiguo transmisor de 5 kW de Colmundo Radio, se supone que llegará lejos (ya se captó en Europa). Sin embargo, en el Cono Sur, pienso que la frecuencia de 6060, en donde próximamente piensan transmitir, será un poco complicada. Entre los libros que se venden en la mencionada librería – y que parece ser que también podrán ser bajados por internet – se encuentra "Secuestro y reconciliación", un relato del secuestro por parte de la guerrilla colombiana que le tocó vivir a Stendal. Ver: http://www.fuerzadepaz.com/webcristo/libros/catalogo/catalogo.htm [Luego:] Pidiendo a mi amigo Rafael Rodríguez que me confirme la dirección callejera de la librería Colombia para Cristo, la cual me parecía un tanto peculiar, por no corresponder a un barrio comercial, me dice que la dirección que me dio Russ Stendal no es la correcta sino que debiera ser Calle 44 No. 13-69 Barrio Palermo, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Para cualquier eventualidad también hay un sitio en el web que se puede usar para comunicarse con la emisora, y es la siguiente: http://www.fuerzadepaz.com/webcristo/emisora/contactenos/contactenos.htm (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 2, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. CPJ REPORTS MURDER OF RADIO STATION OWNER | Text of press release in English by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 1 July Bogota, 1 July 2002: The owner of a radio station, who recently had alerted the public to the presence of paramilitary fighters in the region, was shot and killed in northeastern Colombia. Efraín Varela Noriega, owner of Radio Meridiano-70, was driving home from a university graduation in Arauca Department on the afternoon of 28 June when gunmen yanked him from his car and shot him in the face and chest, said Col Jorge Caro, acting commander of Arauca's police. Varela hosted two polemical news and opinion programmes for the station in the town of Arauca and criticized all sides fighting in Colombia's 38-year civil conflict. "He criticized everyone," said José Gutiérrez, who co-hosted an afternoon programme called "Let's Talk Politics" with Varela. "No one was spared." Gutiérrez said that less than a week before the killing, Varela told listeners during his morning news show that fighters from the paramilitary United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, or AUC, had arrived in Arauca and were patrolling the streets in the town, which is on the border with Venezuela. Tension has been building in the oil-rich province since early June when the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, began threatening to kill civil servants in the region who refused to resign. The rebels are battling the paramilitary army for control over lucrative territory not only in Arauca but throughout the country. Three years ago, Varela's name appeared on a list of people that the paramilitary army had declared military targets, said Caro, the acting police commander, adding that authorities were investigating rumours that the AUC was responsible for the killing. A frequent listener of the station, Caro said Varela seemed to reserve his sharpest criticism for the paramilitaries. Officials from Arauca's Prosecutor's Office investigating the case could not be reached for comment on 1 July, which was a holiday in Colombia. Varela, who was in his early 50s, was also the secretary of a provincial peace commission as well as its former president, said Evelyn Varela, his 28-year-old daughter, and the manager of the station. In recent months, Varela had begun warning his only child that his life could be in danger. "He had us prepared for the worst," his daughter said. Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in English 1 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. You may never have heard it on the air or seen it in lists, but we have finally found out that the registered callsign of Dr. Gene Scott`s Cahuita facility is TIRWR. Should we stop calling it `TIDGS`?? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 6000, RHC La Habana - This morning [Jun 25] came across the usual RHC west coast service 0500-0700 UT, and discovered that RHC La Habana obviously use a 4th channel for regular service: - the 250 kW outlet on 6000 kHz was still on air too - fair signal, - in \\ to usual 9820 fair, - 9665usb strength fine - but suffered by Rome 9670 and another sce maybe DW ATG English, - 9550 was only poor. ... and CUBAN jammers on 9805 and 11775 against R Martí on air too ! (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, DF5SX, BC-DX Jun 25 via DXLD) I haven`t heard RHC on 6000 lately after 0700, but will check it tomorrow. The SSB-USB channel 9665 is often very strong here too, but usually has some QRM from RAI 9670. And 9550 has splash from DW 9545, but often fairly good strength. The jamming seems worst on Marti 7405 here, but also audible on 9805 and 11775 too (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 25 via DXLD) Seemingly technicians fault; 6000 kHz appeared not at 0500-0700 on June 27 and 28 anymore (Büschel, ibid.) RHC was not audible on 6000, but 9665 USB was S9+ and 9550 about S7. Wednesday, I noted Romania on 9550, but not today c0635! (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 25/26 via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC/USA. RFE/RL TO STOP CZECH BROADCASTS AFTER 52 YEARS - RFE/RL PRESIDENT | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 2 July: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will cease broadcasting in Czech on 30 September after 52 years. The RFE/RL's board of governors in Washington decided to terminate funding. RFE/RL President Thomas Dine told reporters in Prague today that the Americans need money to expand broadcasting to certain countries as part of the fight against terrorism. According to Dine, the Czech Republic is a democratic country, a NATO member and on the verge of EU membership. Olga Kopecka, the director of Czech Radio Free Europe, wants to find a replacement source of funds and continue. She claims the broadcasting has a purpose. "I will do everything in order to be able to continue," she told reporters. Dine said that a year's broadcasting cost 650,000 dollars. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1705 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RFE/RL TO STOP CZECH LANGUAGE BROADCASTS | Text of press release in English by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty dated 2 July Thomas A. Dine, President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, announced today that funding for the Czech language Radio Svobodna Evropa will end later this year and by mutual agreement RFE/RL will dissolve its partnership with Czech Radio, which provides a frequency for the broadcast. Dine said RFE/RL's managing body, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) in Washington, has decided not to renew financing for RSE in the new fiscal year which begins on 1 October. "It was an extremely difficult decision because Radio Svobodna Evropa has been a most important component of RFE/RL since it was founded more than half a century ago," Dine said, adding "but we have new priorities and new financial burdens we have to carry in our budget that did not exist before 11 September." RSE, affectionately known as "Svobodka" by Czech and Slovak listeners, is an American non-profit company, funded by a grant from RFE/RL. It was incorporated in Washington in February, 1994. Later, a tripartite arrangement with Czech Radio, RFE/RL and RSE was codified in an agreement signed in May, 1996. In the partnership, Czech Radio provides majority funding and RFE/RL contributes about a third of RSE's annual budget. RSE currently produces more than 40 hours of political and educational programmes weekly which are broadcast on Czech Radio 6, a frequency owned by Czech Radio. Prior to 1994, the Czech Service was located at RFE/RL former headquarters in Munich. Czech and Slovak Language Services were established in 1993, reflecting the political split between the Czechs and Slovaks. Previously combined and called the Czechoslovak Desk, it was RFE/RL's largest Central European service, held up as a model of excellence for other broadcast units. It was also the first service to go on the air from Munich. This week it will be 52 years since the new international broadcast station Radio Free Europe, on 4 July 1950 transmitted its first 30- minute experimental programme to then Czechoslovakia from the West German border. Dine said Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty ended broadcasting to Hungary in 1993 and to Poland in 1997. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe; the Caucasus and Central and Southwestern Asia funded by the US Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty press release, Prague, in English 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) CZECH PRESIDENT REGRETS END OF RFE CZECH BROADCASTS | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 2 July: The pending end of the Czech version of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which was announced today, is mainly regretted by some former anticommunist dissidents who had cooperated with RFE in the communist era. "I think that RFE and its Czech broadcasts played and is still playing a significant role in our country's history. Being told that they are to be discontinued, I must say that I regret it," President Vaclav Havel, a former leading dissident, told reporters today... The US-run RFE/RL will discontinue its Czech version, known as Czech Radio 6-Radio Svobodna Evropa (CRo6-RSE) in the past few years, on 30 September after 52 years... According to media surveys, in the second half of 2001, the CRo 6 was listened to by 52,000 people on average, which is 0.4 per cent of the market... A different opinion was voiced by Ivan Langer, a deputy chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), who chairs the media commission in the outgoing Chamber of Deputies [lower house of parliament]. Langer told CTK that RFE had played irreplaceable role in the totalitarian era. However, now the country has become a standard democracy. That is why it is correct for RFE to aim at the countries where totalitarian regimes still exist, Langer said... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1857 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO FREE EUROPE CZECH BROADCASTS - BACKGROUND INFORMATION | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 2 July: The Czech broadcasts of Radio Free Europe, which was one of the few free sources of information for Czechs and Slovaks for almost 40 years, will have its funding cut and will cease broadcasting on 30 September. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has been headquartered in Prague since 1995 and the demise of the Czech broadcasts means the end of a chapter in the history of broadcasting in the Czech Republic. The commission to create RFE was founded in 1949 on the initiative of the US government and the station's headquarters became Munich. The first test broadcasts meant for Czech and Slovak citizens were sent on 4 July 1950 from a van stationed close to the Czechoslovak border. Daily broadcasting began less than a year later on 1 May 1 with the sentence: "The voice of a free Czechoslovakia is calling"... In an attempt to lower costs, RFE/RL searched for a new headquarters at the beginning of the 1990s. In October of 1993 the Czech government offered RFE/RL the former Federal Assembly in the heart of downtown Prague. The first versions (Latvian, Russian, Ukrainian and Yugoslav) began broadcasting in Prague in March of 1995... The Czech broadcasts of RFE broke away from the mother even before the move. In February 1994, the foreign broadcasting committee decided on the creation of a new non-profit organization dubbed Radio Svobodna Evropa (RSE), which began broadcasting in July 1994 from the Czech Radio (CRo) building. The funding for this broadcasting came from RFE/RL and it is that which is to be cut off. Since November, 1995, a joint project of RFE/RL, RSE and CRo has been broadcasting from RSE's frequency under the name Czech Radio 6/Radio Free Europe. In the fall of 1996, the structure of the financing of the Czech version changes as one-third of the budget was paid by RFE/RL (which must be approved by the US Congress), most was funded by CRo and several firms and foundations also helped in the funding. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1812 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC / USA: REPLACEMENT HEADQUARTERS FOR RFE/RL STILL BEING SOUGHT | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 2 July: Where the headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will move to from the centre of Prague is still unknown, RFE/RL director Thomas Dine told reporters today. Dine said that the Czech government has still not found a building that would meet the station's demands for broadcasting. Real estate agencies are also searching as the government has been unsuccessful, Dine said. The government offered 10 buildings, but only one was in Prague. According to RFE/RL, most were military installations and they did not meet size or location requirements for international broadcasting. According to information the daily Pravo published, there is no money for the move in this year's or next year's budget. Foreign Minister Jan Kavan hinted that the United States will help with the move. The question of the move's financing has not yet been solved. The US-run RFE/RL is headquartered in the heart of Prague on one of the city's busiest streets. Following last September's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, the headquarters is guarded by police, soldiers and armoured transports, thus clogging traffic. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1846 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 560, (tentative) R. Ritmos, HIAA, Santiago, JUN 28 0657 - (very) local WHBQ was silent running an OC this morning leaving KLVI-Beaumont mostly dominant w/ 2 LA stations underneath. SP talk and laughter slightly dominant at 0657 into brief instrumental interlude until TOH announcements at 0701 w/ 2 mentions of Santo Domingo then fading back down. Was hoping to use this rare opportunity to catch Dominica on 555 but found only a very weak het [Brandon Jordan, Memphis TN, IRCA DX Monitor via DXLD] ** EASTER ISLAND. CE0Y Easter Island QRV schedule Hello all, This is Hisato, 7K1WLE; I will be active from Easter Island IOTA SA-001 between July 18-24 as CE0Y/7K1WLE. Activity will be on 160m -10m, Mainly on CW and some SSB. Using IC-706 and IC-2KL 500W with wire antenna. Operating frequencies are CW: 1826, 3504 7004 10104 14004 18074 21004 24894 28004 SSB: 3795 7088 14265 18145 21265 24945 28465. QSL via JN1HOW. Please call me! Hisato 7K1WLE (via Bob Chandler, ODXA, via DXLD) ** FINLAND. During 2nd Birthday Transmission of SWR, Scandinavian Weekend Radio on 6th July, DJ Madman will have an DX-Contest. It will be quite a simple one; you need only listen to World Radio Roulette programme and during contest-time try to identify 1 station from audio sample played and then call to studio and tell the right answer! Telephone number to SWR studio is +358 400 995 559. Call and win! Best Regards, Dj. Madman PS. More info of our Birthday-transmission will be posted here later! (Alpo Heinonen, July 4, also via