Current Economic Developments: Lot 70 D 4671
Current Economic Developments
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Soviet Jamming of Voice of America
Intensive studies have been under way over the past year to determine the most effective means whereby the US may counteract Soviet jamming and penetrate the Iron Curtain through the Voice of America. The special staff group considering these problems is chaired by State and includes representation from Defense, Federal Communications Commission, Central Intelligence Agency, other appropriate Departments and agencies, and has utilized the assistance of private groups. Strong efforts are being made to line up recommendations for submission to the National Security Council early in 1951. The studies are closely related to the national directive on US foreign information policy and psychological warfare planning, which requires the ready adaptation of the peacetime foreign information program to the needs of propaganda in time of national emergency or war.
The group concerned with the problems relating to jamming is considering specifically: 1) the development of means to penetrate jamming; 2) measures which might induce or compel the USSR to discontinue its jamming of the Voice of America; and 3) the ramifications of any effective measures taken by the US on either score.
Expanding VOA Activities In view of intensive Soviet efforts to keep its people from any contacts, news or information from the outside world through the medium of press, motion picture or even free movement of individuals, we have come to rely upon radio as almost the only remaining means by which we may reach the people of the USSR. By Congressional mandate we are committed to make the most effective possible use of this mechanism as an instrument of national policy to get across to people in the Soviet orbit as well as to other areas of the world the story of America and the peaceful intent of its foreign policies. There is considerable evidence that prior to the intensive Soviet jamming, the Voice of America had become an effective means of supplying information of the free world to the [Page 334] peoples of the USSR and its satellites. Present trends in our relations with the satellite governments indicate that the Voice of America is the only overt means now in use by which we can attempt to reach the public in those countries.
Simultaneous with the studies being made by the inter-agency group, the Department is considering every possible means of carrying out the “bold new program” for the Voice of America provided for by Congressional appropriation and Presidential directive. Efforts are being made to improve existing high frequency broadcasting and to expand program facilities for reaching world-wide audiences through improvement and modernization of existing facilities and the acquisition or erection of additional transmitting stations surrounding the Iron Curtain wherever and however they can be obtained. The cooperation of other friendly countries is required and initial negotiations with western European countries are under way. Simultaneously, other negotiations are in various stages with countries in the Pacific, Southeast Asia and the Middle East area. This government has kept up persistent efforts to reach international agreement for equitably meeting broadcasting frequency needs of all countries and for discouraging deliberate derogation by the USSR of telecommunication agreements and conventions. We have sponsored anti-jamming resolutions through the appropriate organs of the UN—relating this effort to the broader framework of the universal declaration on human rights which seeks to protect freedom of speech and opinion and the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers. High-frequency broadcasting is recognized as a medium for free dissemination of information and ideas and for better understanding throughout the world, and is a vital force for cultivation of international good will and the maintenance of world peace.
Soviet Jamming Tactics Mass jamming started in April 1949 when the Soviets backed down on their Berlin blockade. Intended at first to keep the facts and the decision on this matter from the ears of the Soviet people, the jamming activity has since become thoroughly and systematically organized with the application of steadily increasing facilities indicating that this is a major effort on the part of the USSR. It has been successful to the point where, notwithstanding the greatly increased effort of the Voice of America, we are reaching only a small percentage of the former audience in that area. Intelligence indicates that improvements in Soviet jamming technique and recent construction of powerful transmitters in certain satellite countries, may have the capacity to deny reception by almost all European home receivers of any program other than those originating in the USSR. If carried to its ultimate conclusion, Soviet jamming and our countermeasures could virtually disrupt all forms of international radio communications. [Page 335] In addition to their jamming efforts, the Soviets and their satellites have taken advantage of all post-war radio frequency negotiations to try to silence Voice of America relay broadcasting facilities located outside the US and its territories.
Efforts to Counteract Soviet Jamming A comprehensive facilities program, which seeks to enable the Voice of America to break through Soviet jamming, is under way. However, no comparable research effort has been established pointed at the problem of achieving an understandable signal under all conditions in existing receiving sets of foreign populations which, not being under our control, cannot be modified or replaced. Technical research in this field has been pointed almost wholly toward counter-jamming (retaliatory jamming of electronic devices and communications of any potential enemy) and anti-jamming (protection of our electronic devices and military communications from jamming). Although no attempt at retaliatory jamming of Soviet broadcasts or the control signals of their jamming network has been made by the Voice of America, some thought has been given to this as a possible measure to force the USSR to desist. However, such measures immediately run counter to international agreements in the telecommunication field.…
The important role of the Voice of America program as an instrument of national policy has not been fully appreciated by all of the agencies of the government. Hence it has been handicapped through the consequent inability to secure all of its needs for an expanding program. For example, its use of frequencies conflict with other users of the spectrum. This will become increasingly serious as the program develops. Greater support in the fields of intelligence, communication research, technical development, and frequency assignments must be given to this problem if the Voice of America is to penetrate effectively existing and anticipated future Soviet jamming. Stronger support for the steps necessary to back up the whole Voice of America concept requires an open minded exploration of the close interrelationship of this problem with other problems in the fields of intelligence, security and communications.
Implementation of the Voice of America program, including protective counter jamming measures, is an integral part of the total communications problem of this government. This is the front on which the least progress has been made and in which some of the most difficult decisions remain to be made. The satisfaction of the Voice of America needs raises questions of security and our national and international telecommunication policy. The interplay of our Voice of America problem with our total telecommunication problem is exemplified by evidence that the USSR is utilizing existing Voice of America efforts as a proving ground for the development of their own communication and jamming techniques. This includes the training [Page 336] of large numbers of personnel, and Soviet investigation of our capability of taking counter-measures. There is the danger that continuation of the Voice of America efforts to penetrate the Soviet area may involve the US in a counter-jamming war in all governmental and commercial fields of communications. Because of these factors and the requirements of other essential communication and intelligence programs as well as related international telecommunication problems, it has been difficult to obtain a sufficiently high priority for meeting Voice of America requirements on all fronts.
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- Lot 70 D 467 is a master set of the Department of State publication Current Economic Developments for the years 1945–1969, as maintained in the Bureau of Economic Affairs. Current Economic Developments is a weekly classified publication, prepared by the Policy Information Committee of the Department of State, designed to highlight developments in the economic divisions of the Department and to indicate the economic problems which were currently receiving attention in the Department. It was circulated within the Department and to missions abroad.↩