Hello all!   
      
      
   For those who might not be familiar, the BBG is the   
   broadcasting board of governors, the folks who run U.S.   
   programs such as voice of America, etc.   
      
      
   I just received my September 2011 issue of POpular   
   COmmunications in the mail earlier today, and once again the editorial talks   
   about the desire of the chairman of the BBG   
   to phase out shortwave broadcasting in favor of internet   
   streaming.   
      
   YEt as some groups who measure such things acknowledge, only about 31 percent   
   of the people on this planet have access to the internet.  And, I'd be willing   
   to wager that of that 31   
   percent, some have only occasional access.   
      
   A good number of those internet "haves" live in places such   
   as China, wehre the government has the off switch at its   
   fingertips.   
      
   YEs, shortwave broadcasting costs money, in both spinning   
   that electric wat/hour meter, and in equipment maintenance.   
   But, imho it's well worth it for the goodwill the United   
   STates can generate.  Remember that many folks still have   
   transistorized shortwave receivers.  With programs such as   
   Ears To OUr WOrld distributing crank 'em up shortwave   
   receivers in less developed places I expect to see that   
   continue for awhile.   
      
   That potential terrorist might just think twice about hating the free world   
   when he remembers that he got what education   
   he could thanks to a teacher with a shortwave radio in his   
   village.  That oppressed person in a far off land deserves   
   that beacon of hope which comes to him through a small   
   speaker in the middle of the night that he guards with his   
   life, because it brings important information to his   
   neighbors which they might not have if their government   
   found and destroyed his radio.   
   YEs folks, this stuff still happens, every day.   
      
      
   Do you care?  IF so write the Broadcasting board of   
   governors.  Send them email at   
      
   publicaffairs@bbg.gov and remind them that throwing the off   
   switch on those shortwave transmitters is shortsighted, and   
   not in the best interests of the United STates.   
      
      
   73   
              Richard   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:116/901)