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Operating costs and minimal, ongoing damage caused by the 2018 typhoon contributed to the decision.
Operating costs and minimal and ongoing damage caused by the 2018 typhoon contributed to the decision.
The Voice of America closes its Robert E. Kamosa in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The measure was reported through local media in the United States Pacific Territory, based on a letter from the US Agency for Global Media.
“I suspect that your organization has learned in recent weeks of a first update underway at the Robert E Broadcast Station. Kamosa or REKTS from the U. S. Agency for Global Media. The upgrade consists of the cessation of all shortwave radio transmissions at our Saipan and Tinian locations, the first step toward the completion of the station,” according to the letter.
REKTS is comprised of a transmitter and antenna formula at Agingan Point, on the southwestern edge of Saipan, and a transmitter and antenna formula at the time on the west side of Tinian. It is used for multilingual programming through Radio Free Asia and Voice of America in the East Asia region.
William Martin, director of USAGM’s Transproject Stations and Operations Division, said: “By now, many of you have heard that the “Voice of America” shortwave stations on Saipan and Tinian, which operated under the umbrella of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), are final. After decades of operation, those services are being phased out as shortwave audiences migrate to other media. While those closures mark the end of an era, They are also bittersweet, because until the end of those seasons, we are also saying Shout out to the other people and communities who have supported our project for so many years. On behalf of the agency, I would like to thank our staff and the many members of the agency. network that have particularly contributed to the operation of the stations for so many years.
Martin Station Manager for REKTS Station Master from 2013 to 2019.
In recent years, USAGM has sought to redirect resources from shortwave broadcasting to other channels based on which it can more productively reach its intended audience. In its 2025 budget justification document, the company noted a comprehensive review of shortwave and mediumwave broadcast needs “leading to some discounts in regions where the company’s studies show shortwave audiences are incredibly small. ” “
[Related: “Where Is VOA’s Transmission Infrastructure Today” (2022)]
An additional challenge for REKTS is the lingering damage caused by Category Five Super Typhoon Yutu, which destroyed the station’s infrastructure in October 2018.
According to USAGM’s monetary report for fiscal year 2023, the typhoon destroyed all 16 shortwave curtain antennas at the site and brought down one of its towers. Using recovered parts, five antennas were fully restored through the end of FY2020, and 3 more were operational through the end of FY2023 with parts for three more antennas on site.
According to the report, the total assets held through USAGM in the Northern Mariana Islands had an approximate e-book of $5. 4 million as of September 30, 2023.
Previously, USAGM predicted that 11 of REKTS’ 15 shortwave antennas would be fully operational by the end of fiscal year 2025. Additional innovations are needed in the new included roof to prevent water leakage.
The Saipan site was first broadcast in 1982 as Superrock KYOI, an advertising station targeting Japan with rock and pop music. It was acquired in 1986 through Herald Broadcasting Service. Radio Free Asia began leasing the transmitters in September 1996 and purchased the services in 1999.
Construction of the Tinian site began in 1993, when the US Department of Defense transferred 834 acres of land on the island to the US Information Agency. The first transmissions from the site began in January 1999.
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T. Carter Ross
They got their start in radio at KNWD (FM) school station in Natchitoches, Louisiana, while in high school and later served as their general manager. He was editor-in-chief of Radio World International and, since 2012, has worked in marketing and communications for industry associations and nonprofits in the Washington, D. C. area.
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