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Washington, D.C./Madrid/Barcelona, May 25, 2001 – The United States Government has advised the Government of Spain and Radio Nacional de Espana of its intention to end broadcasting from the Transmitting Station at Playa de Pals, Spain, effective May 25, 2001. 

Commenting today on the end of broadcasting from Pals, Brian Conniff, Acting Director of the Broadcasting Board of Governors’ (BBG) International Broadcasting Bureau, said, “The Playa de Pals Transmitting Station has had a long and distinguished history.  Since the 1950s, it has played a critical role in bringing objective news and information to the people of the former Soviet Union.  The BBG has operated the facility since 1995.  On behalf of the U.S. Government and of my U.S. international broadcasting colleagues, I wish to acknowledge the years of dedication of the many men and women who have worked at Pals and to thank them for their valuable contributions to our work.  I would also like to thank the Government of Spain, the Government of Catalunya, and our partners at Radio Nacional de Espana for their invaluable collaboration in helping the station accomplish its worthy mission.”

The U.S. Government, through its Broadcasting Board of Governors, has monitored changing political conditions and re-examined its shortwave broadcasting requirements for Russia and Central Asia, the primary coverage areas of the Pals facility.  Today, the ability of newer and different media and the availability of other transmitting locations to reach the former Soviet Union, along with the development of democratic institutions and market-based economies in the region, have significantly diminished the utility of the Playa de Pals station as a U.S. Government broadcasting facility to the point where its continued broadcast operations can no longer be operationally or financially justified.

Conniff added, “The U.S. Government will honor its commitments to each of the Pals Transmitting Station’s employees by providing fair and equitable treatment in accordance with Spanish labor law.” 

For additional information, please contact the Office of External Affairs at (202) 619-2538 or send email to pubaff@voa.gov.