Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act
PL 98-111 (S.602), enacted 10/04/1983

PUBLIC LAW 98-111—OCT. 4, 1983 
97 STAT. 749 
Public Law 98-111 
98th Congress 
An Act 
To 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, That this Act may 
be cited as the "Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act". 
FINDINGS; PURPOSES 
SEC. 2. 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 informa-
tion and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers, in 
accordance with article 19 of 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 partic-
ular 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. 
Oct. 4, 1983 
[S. 602] 
Radio 
Broadcasting to 
Cuba Act. 
22 use 1465 
note. 
22 use 1465. 
ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY 
SEC. 3. (a) In order to carry out the objectives set forth in section 2, 22 use I465a. 
the United States Information Agency (hereafter in this Act re-
ferred to as the "Agency") 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 compre-
hensive news. 
0>) 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 Facilities. 
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 Frequencies. 
97 STAT. 750 
PUBLIC LAW 98-111—OCT. 4, 1983 
Leased time 
from nongovern-
mental 
stations. 
22 u s e 1463. 
Frequency 
jamming or 
interference, 
leased time. 
FCC monitoring. 
22 u s e 1463. 
Program 
designations. 
commercial Amplitude Modulation (AM) Band (535 kHz to 1605 
kHz), may also be simultaneously utilized: Provided, That no fre-
quency 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 empha-
sis 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 interfer-
ence greater by 25 per centum or more than the average daily 
jamming or interference in the twelve months preceding September 
1, 1983, the Director of the United States Information Agency may 
lease time on commercial or noncommercial educational AM band 
radio broadcasting stations. The Federal Communications Commis-
sion shall determine levels of 
jamming and interference by conduct-
ing 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 Amer-
ica: Cuba Service" or "Voice of America: Radio Marti program". 
(f) In the event broadcasting facilities located at Marathon, Flor-
ida, are rendered inoperable by natural disaster or by unlawful 
destruction, the Director of the United States Information Agency 
may, for the period in which the facilities are inoperable but not to 
exceed one hundred and fifty days, use other United States Govern-
ment-owned transmission facilities for Voice of America broadcasts 
to Cuba authorized by this Act. 
Establishment. 
22 u s e 1465b. 
CUBA SERVICE OF THE VOICE OF AMERICA 
SEC. 4. The Director of the United States Information Agency 
shall establish within the Voice of America a Cuba Service (hereaf-
ter in this section referred to as the "Service"). The Service shall be 
responsible for all radio broadcasts to Cuba authorized by section 3. 
The Director of the United States Information Agency 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 Director 
and the Associate Director for Broadcasting of the United States 
Information Agency. 
Establishment. 
22 u s e 1465c. 
BOARD 
FOR 
RADIO 
BROADCASTING 
TO 
CUBA 
SEC. 5. (a) There is established within the Office of the President 
the Advisory Board for Radio Broadcasting to Cuba (hereafter in 
this Act referred to as the "Board"). The 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 
PUBLIC LAW 98-111—OCT. 4, 1983 
97 STAT. 751 
of the same political party. The President shall designate one 
member of the Board to serve as Chairman. 
db) The Board shall review the effectiveness of the activities 
carried out under this Act and shall make such recommendations to 
the President, the Director and the Associate Director for Broadcast-
ing of the United States Information Agency as it may deem 
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 Service shall serve, ex officio, as a member 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 member of the Board shall not be entitled to any compensa-
tion 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. 
Review of 
activity 
effectiveness. 
Appointments. 
Compensation. 
Effective date. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
SEC. 6. (a) In order to assist the United States Information Agency 
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 administra-
tive and technical support and services at the request of the Agency. 
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 Agency may carry out the purposes of section 3 by means 
of grants, leases, or contracts (subject to the availability of appropri-
ations), or such other means as the Agency determines will be most 
effective. 
22 u s e 1465d. 
Reimbursement. 
Grants, leases, or 
contracts. 
97 STAT. 752 
PUBLIC LAW 98-111—OCT. 4, 1983 
Claims against 
Cuban 
Government. 
22 u s e 1465e. 
Regulations. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Interference 
level analysis. 
Effective date. 
22 u s e 1465e 
note. 
22 u s e 1465f. 
FACIUTY COMPENSATION 
SEC. 7. (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 interfer-
ence with broadc£isting 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 Agency 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 transmis-
sion 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 appropri-
ate. 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 Agency, 
$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. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated for the United 
States Information Agency $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 United States Information Agency 
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 Agency for the fiscal years 1984 and 1985, there are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Agency $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. 
PUBLIC LAW 98-111—OCT. 4, 1983 
97 STAT. 753 
INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE CUBA SERVICE 
SEC. 9. The United States Information Agency shall arrange, by 22 use I465g. 
contract if necessary, an independent evaluation of Cuba Service 
programing, the results of which are to be set forth in a report to be 
prepared and transmitted to the Agency eighteen months after the 
date of enactment of this Act and at intervals of one year thereafter 
for the following three years. The Agency shall, not later than thirty 
Report to 
days after the date of receipt of such report, transmit to the Con- Congress. 
gross such report, together with any recommendations for legisla-
tive action. 
Approved October 4, 1983. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 602 (H.R. 2453): 
HOUSE REPORT No. 98-284, Pt. 1 (Coram, on Foreign Affairs) and Pt. 2 (Ck)mm. on 
Energy and Commerce) both accompanying H.R. 2453. 
SENATE REPORT No. 98-156 (Coram, on Foreign Relations). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 129 (1983): 
Sept. 13, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 29, considered and passed House.