Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Date:         Wed, 2 Sep 1992 15:38:43 EDT
Reply-To:     "Alfredo E. Cotroneo" <100020.1013@COMPUSERVE.COM>
From:         "Alfredo E. Cotroneo" <100020.1013@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      IRRS-Shortwave
X-To:         Shortwave Listeners List <SWL-L@OHSTVMA.ACS.OHIO-STATE.EDU>

In the June 1992 edition of 'Monitoring Times' (page 29), Glenn
Hauser writes:

| ITALY Beware of writing to IRRS: I got an unsolicited letter
| from a contractor in Honolulu who felt we were destined to
| discuss salvation (Frank Orcutt, NY, W.O.R.). IRRS is mainly
| USB  but also some LSB to ward off adjacent-channel
| interference (HCJB DXPL)

The following letter was addressed to Bob Grove WA4PYQ, Publisher of
Monitoring Times, P.O. Box 98, 140 Dog Branch Road, Brasstown, NC
28902-0098,  USA, and to Glenn Hauser:

                             Milano, Italy --  2 September 1992

Dear Bob,
Dear Glenn,


In the June edition of MT, your column "Shortwave Broadcasting" contained a
warning to readers not to write to IRRS-Shortwave because of what one
contributor termed an "unsolicited" letter of a religious nature he
presumably received after writing to us or to the program producer in
question.

As the organization responsible for operating IRRS-Shortwave, we would like
to point out the following:

1. NEXUS-International Broadcasting Association is a non-profit organization
dedicated to making international broadacsting facilities available to those
who cannot afford the cost of other similiar services. The Association
maintains a strict standard of membership and program acceptance, but does
not exercise editorial control, except in cases where violence ar hatred
against individuals, groups, or states is advocated, or where the content is
in clear violation of Italian Law or accepted standards of taste.

2. NEXUS-IBA has no political or religious affiliation whatsoever, nor does
it support any political or religious denomination of any kind.

3. Listeners to IRRS-Shortwave are free to write directly to the programmers
or to us, in which case, we make always clear on the air, that reception
reports and/or programme comments are forwarded to the programmer in
question.

4. On the literally thousands of pieces of correspondence that have been
directed to NEXUS-IBA / IRRS-Shortwave and its programmers since shortwave
transmissions began in 1988, we have not become aware of any other complaint
of this kind. Having said this, we do not know of one letter similiar to
that in question. It is our understanding and interpretation that the author
of the letter was neither insulting nor abusive; nor did he make any demands
on the addressee. As often we do, he probably took the trouble to personally
thank the reporter for his interest. Correspoindence ended at that point,
and the addressee was not contacted again.

We at NEXUS-IBA regard this incident as having been grossly sensationalized
by the editor. And we are saddened that the world has apparently come to the
point where an innocent, sincere attempt at interhuman dialogue is perceived
as an annoyance. Furthermore, we protest at the clear implication that our
station and programming should be viewed in suspicion or even avoided in the
context.

                            Yours faithfully,


                            Alfredo E. Cotroneo
                            President
                            NEXUS-International Broadcasting Association


P.S. An updated schedule of our transmissions is being sent by separate mail
to your address, as MT still lists incorrectly our operating times (and
transmitter mode: A3A/AM reduced carrier).
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU