{"id":3425,"date":"2012-05-01T10:00:35","date_gmt":"2012-05-01T14:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=3425"},"modified":"2012-05-03T06:58:42","modified_gmt":"2012-05-03T10:58:42","slug":"the-edward-r-murrow-transmitting-station-voa-site-b-re-dedication-means-a-new-name-plus-a-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/05\/the-edward-r-murrow-transmitting-station-voa-site-b-re-dedication-means-a-new-name-plus-a-future\/","title":{"rendered":"The Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station: VOA “Site B” re-dedication means a new name plus a future"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

My feature article on touring the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station in the March 2012 issue of Monitoring Times<\/p><\/div>\n

Last December, I had the honor of receiving a personal five hour tour of the VOA transmitter site near Greenville, NC, USA. It was literally a dream come true for me, and providing a more in-depth understanding of the history, the equipment, the antennas and, most importantly, the people<\/em> who keep this remarkable site on the air 24\/7. You can read all about my experience in a feature article I wrote for the \u00a0March 2012 issue of Monitoring Times Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Just before my article was sent to print, I received word from my new friends at the transmitter site that it had been renamed the “Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station.” Fortunately, timing was on my side and my article carried the new name throughout.<\/p>\n

This was much more than a re-naming of the site, however. I knew that to some degree, it was a reassurance by the BBG (Broadcasting Board of Governors) that the site, which had been slated for closure as recently as 2010, was to have a future that would reflect its honored past in international broadcasting. Clearly, the site is very important; it’s the last remaining international broadcating station that is not only wholly owned by the US government, but is nonetheless on US territory, where no restrictions can be imposed upon either what<\/em> is broadcast, nor for whom<\/em> the broadcast is targeted.<\/p>\n

On a side note, perhaps what disappoints me most about the Radio Canada International cuts<\/a>, and why I’ve been so vocal about it, is the fact that they plan to close their Sackville, New Brunswick transmitting site. In a sense, it’s the Canadian cousin to the VOA’s Murrow site, which is to say, the only international broadcasting site in Canada<\/em>, that’s fully owned by Canada and grounded firmly on Candian soil.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Tuning controls on one of the 500 kW Continental Electronics transmitters I admired at the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Site. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

I’m very pleased the US government and the Broadcasting Board of Governers made what I strongly believe to be the right decision, namely, keeping Edward R. Murrow Transmitting station open and active. Once that transmission infrastructure is gone, it’s gone. Fortunately, this re-dedicationconfirms that it will live on.<\/p>\n

I was personally invited to the dedication, but sadly will be unable to attend, the distance (twelve hours by car) being fairly prohibitive.<\/p>\n

Yet I wish you well, broadcast heroes: \u00a0long live the Edward R. Murrow transmitting site!<\/p>\n

The Greenville Reflector published an article about the May 2nd dedication of the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station:<\/p>\n

(Source: The Reflector<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\n
\n

VOA site to be rededicated<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

A Voice of America site once scheduled for closure has not only been saved but will be rededicated Wednesday in a ceremony featuring the son of broadcasting pioneer Edward R. Murrow.<\/p>\n

Voice of America Site B, located 15 miles east of Greenville outside of Grimesland, was named for the legendary broadcaster when it opened in 1963.<\/p>\n

Murrow\u2019s name was removed from the building as part of security measures taken after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n

Murrow\u2019s name will be returned during a 10 a.m. ceremony being held at the site, 3919 VOA Site B Road.<\/p>\n

[…]The Broadcasting Board of Governors announced in February 2010 it wanted to close VOA Site B so it could save about $3.1 million annually and focus on upgrading its satellite, digital and other broadcasting technologies.<\/p>\n

The site B location broadcasts via short-wave radio to Cuba, the Caribbean and South America. In the past it also has broadcast to West Africa.<\/p>\n

Jones and U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., worked to stop the closure, aided by another member of the North Carolina delegation, Democrat David Price.<\/p>\n

The closure never came because Congress had difficulties finalizing its 2010-11 budget and funding was included in continuation budgets.<\/p>\n

The broadcasting board notified Jones in January 2011 that the administration wouldn\u2019t pursue the site\u2019s closure.<\/p>\n

By that time Victor Ashe, former mayor of Knoxville, Tenn., and former ambassador to Poland, joined the broadcasting board and toured the VOA Site B facility.<\/p>\n

Ashe said he was impressed by the facility\u2019s staff members and their dedication to the organization\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe free and honest information is a prelude and a foundation of a democratic society,\u201d Ashe said.<\/p>\n

Like other proponents of the site, Ashe said it\u2019s important to keep VOA Site B operating because it\u2019s the only short-wave Voice of America facility operating under U.S. jurisdiction. Other short-wave locations can be shut down at the insistence of its host nation.<\/p>\n

Other methods of broadcasting \u2014 radio, television, the Internet and social media \u2014 can be cut off or blocked.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

And the invitation from the BBG:<\/p>\n

Speakers will include:<\/p>\n

Congressman Walter Jones<\/strong><\/p>\n

Casey Murrow, son of Edward R. Murrow and Executive Director, Synergy Learning<\/strong><\/p>\n

Victor Ashe, BBG Governor, former Ambassador to Poland and former mayor of Knoxville<\/strong><\/p>\n

Richard M. Lobo, award-winning media executive and journalist and Director of the International Broadcasting Bureau<\/strong><\/p>\n

Edward R. Murrow\u2019s legacy as a journalist and his rich understanding of the importance of press freedom as part of the bedrock of democracy along with the key role of U.S. international broadcasting as a model of a free press will be highlighted in the ceremony to be held in the lead-up to World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd.<\/p>\n

The transmitting station, a 24\/7 broadcast facility, supports the mission of the Broadcasting Board of Governors to\u00a0\u201cinform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy\u201d<\/em>\u00a0through about 2,200 hours of transmissions each month.<\/p>\n

Program:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Welcome:
\nAndr\u00e9 Mendes, Director, Office of Technology, Services and Innovation, International Broadcasting Bureau<\/p>\n

Invocation:<\/strong>
\nPastor William Thompson, Burney Chapel Free Will Baptist Church<\/p>\n

Presentation of Colors:<\/strong>
\nD. H. Conley High School\u00a0 ROTC<\/p>\n

National Anthem:<\/strong>
\nKaren Meetze, Choral Director, J. H. Rose High School<\/p>\n

Musical Accompaniment by:<\/strong>
\nA.G. Cox Middle School Band
\nBarney Barker, Band Director<\/p>\n

Remarks about Edward R. Murrow:<\/strong>
\nCasey Murrow, Executive Director, Synergy Learning<\/p>\n

Remarks:<\/strong>
\nAmbassador Victor Ashe, BBG Governor<\/p>\n

Introduction:<\/strong>
\nRichard M. Lobo, Director, International Broadcasting Bureau<\/p>\n

Keynote:<\/strong>
\nCongressman Walter Jones<\/p>\n

Following the ceremony a tour of the facility will be offered.<\/em><\/p>\n

Register through Eventbrite by April 26, 2012.<\/em><\/p>\n

For more information, please call 202-203-4400 or email\u00a0pubaff@bbg.gov<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international broadcasting, whose mission is inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. BBG broadcasts reach an audience of 187 million in 100 countries. BBG networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe\/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Mart\u00ed).<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last December, I had the honor of receiving a personal five hour tour of the VOA transmitter site near Greenville, NC, USA. It was literally a dream come true for me, and providing a more in-depth understanding of the history, the equipment, the antennas and, most importantly, the people who keep this remarkable site on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,3,43],"tags":[406,936,1101,1106,1104,1102,184,4082,10,379,832,1103,1105],"class_list":["post-3425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-bbg","tag-broadcasting-board-of-governors","tag-edward-r","tag-ibb","tag-ibb-site-b","tag-murrow-transmitting-station","tag-radio-marti","tag-shortwave-radio","tag-voa","tag-voa-greenville","tag-voa-shortwave","tag-voa-site-b","tag-voa-site-b-dedication"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-Tf","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3494,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/05\/edward-r-murrow-transmitting-station-re-dedication-videos\/","url_meta":{"origin":3425,"position":0},"title":"Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station: re-dedication videos","author":"Thomas","date":"May 9, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week, we noted the upcoming re-dedication of the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station and the significance of this particular broadcasting location. Videos of the event have now been posted on the BBG Watch website, including this one, which features the original dedication of the site in 1963: Local CBS\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6940,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/07\/bbg-watch-edward-r-murrow-site-appears-safe-in-fiscal-year-2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":3425,"position":1},"title":"BBG Watch: Edward R. Murrow site appears safe in fiscal year 2014","author":"Thomas","date":"July 27, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This is good news for our friends at the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station (click to read tour): (Source: BBG Watch) Thanks to efforts by Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) member Victor Ashe, support of his board colleagues Susan McCue and Michael Meehan, and intervention from North Carolina congressmen\u00a0G.K. Butterfield\u00a0(D-NC)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station campus as seen by Google Earth (Click to enlarge)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/VOAfromGoogleEarth-300x264.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17992,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/any-requests-heading-to-the-edward-r-murrow-transmitting-station\/","url_meta":{"origin":3425,"position":2},"title":"Any requests? Heading to the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station…","author":"Thomas","date":"March 31, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm planning to visit the Edward R. Murrow transmitter station for a few hours on Friday (tomorrow). This will be my third trip to the station and I'll be hanging out with the chief engineer, Macon Dail. I plan to take more photos--especially of some recent transmitter upgrades. Any questions\/requests?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37374,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/photo-tour-the-edward-r-murrow-transmitting-station\/","url_meta":{"origin":3425,"position":3},"title":"Photo Tour: The Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station","author":"Thomas","date":"May 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, I posted a photo\u00a0and asked if you guess where I was when I took the shot. Those of you who guessed the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station (formerly, \"VOA Site B\") near Greenville, North Carolina, were absolutely correct! My buddy, John Figliozzi, gave a presentation about NASWA and the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-51-of-170-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-51-of-170-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-51-of-170-150x150.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-51-of-170-150x150.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18590,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/edward-r-murrow-shortwave-transmitting-station-wallpaper-images\/","url_meta":{"origin":3425,"position":4},"title":"Edward R. Murrow Shortwave Transmitting Station: wallpaper images","author":"Thomas","date":"April 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"On April 1st, I spent the bulk of the day at the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station\u00a0outside of Greenville, North Carolina. Prior to my visit, I asked if SWLing Post readers had any requests or questions I could address while there. I printed all of your inquiries and made sure\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"VOA-site-B-Wallpaper-MainBuilding2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/VOA-site-B-Wallpaper-MainBuilding2-1-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/VOA-site-B-Wallpaper-MainBuilding2-1-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/VOA-site-B-Wallpaper-MainBuilding2-1-1024x640.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43092,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/radio-marti-has-cancelled-programming-at-voa-greenville-site\/","url_meta":{"origin":3425,"position":5},"title":"Radio Marti has cancelled programming at VOA Greenville site","author":"Thomas","date":"May 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Porter, who shares the following news item from Glenn Hauser's World of Radio: Radio Marti has cancelled all programming via Greenville between 0400 and 1000 UTC effective from 2 May. During this period the only transmission left from Greenville is 0600-0630 VOA French\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-148-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-148-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-148-of-170.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-148-of-170.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3425"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3425\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}