SEEKING GOK APPROVAL TO BROADCAST FROM NEW IBB

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 119316

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019
TAGS: BBG KPAO PREL KU IR
SUBJECT: SEEKING GOK APPROVAL TO BROADCAST FROM NEW IBB
TRANSMITTER IN KUWAIT

REF: A. KUWAIT 778

B. KUWAIT 756

Classified By: NEA PDAS Ronald Schlicher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S/NF) Summary and Action Request. In 2006, the
International Broadcasting Board (IBB) began construction of
a $5.2 million medium wave (MW) transmitter in Kuwait to
broadcast Radio Farda in Iran. Currently, BBG broadcasts
Radio Farda on only one MW frequency. Having a second MW
frequency is highly desirable and will make it harder for
Radio Farda broadcasts to be jammed by the Iranian
government. The Kuwaiti government has not responded to
IBB's requests for permission for the transmitter to operate
on a Non-Interference Basis. Kuwait's Ministry of
Information has instead filed an inaccurate registration with
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which falsely
stated that the frequency would be used by a non-directional,
lower power transmitter, and has requested that IBB submit
data to support the inaccurate filing. The Department has
concluded that the United States should not submit inaccurate
information in support of Kuwait's ITU filing, as doing so
risks undermining U.S. credibility in the ITU. The
Department requests that the Ambassador meet with Kuwait's
Foreign Minister to seek permission to operate the new
transmitter at the 1386 KHz frequency on a Non-Interference
Basis. Ambassador should draw from the talking points
included in paragraphs 7 and 8 in her discussion with the
Foreign Minister. End summary and Action Request.

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BACKGROUND
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2. (SBU) Background. In 2006, the International
Broadcasting Board (IBB),under the authority of the
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG),began construction of
a $5.2 million medium wave (MW) transmitter at the IBB
facility in Kuwait to broadcast Radio Farda into Iran.
Construction of the new transmitter in Kuwait followed an
FY-2006 Congressional appropriation to increase BBG's
coverage of Iran. BBG chose to construct a new transmitter
at its existing IBB facility in Kuwait because of Kuwait's
close proximity to Iran (which allows the transmitter to
deliver a strong signal of Radio Farda to its intended
audience),and based on the positive relationship that exists
between the IBB and the GOK's Ministry of Information.
Construction of the transmitter is expected to be complete in
early 2010.


3. (SBU) Radio Farda is an important tool in our ongoing
effort to reach out to the Iranian people. It broadcasts to
Iran 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via short wave,
medium wave, satellite and Internet, providing the people of
Iran with accurate, objective news reports on topics ranging
from health, culture, politics, the economy, and human rights
in Iran. A "surrogate broadcaster," Radio Farda seeks to
provide news and information that Iranians would have if
their government permitted them an unfettered, independent
media. Although the majority of Iranians get their news from
Iranian state-run media, research indicates that Iranians are
eager for news from many sources to provide a more balanced
overall picture. Radio Farda is congressionally funded via
the BBG, and receives bipartisan support.


4. (S/NF) The Department understands that although the GOK
has over a four-year period consistently provided
working-level approval and support for the transmitter
project, it has not extended formal, written permission for
the transmitter to operate on a Non-Interference Basis (NIB),
as IBB and post have requested (ref A). The Department also
understands that when the Ambassador requested the GOK's
approval during a July 27 meeting with the Minister of Oil
and Information, the Minister demurred and recommended that
the Ambassador raise this issue with the Kuwaiti Foreign
Minister (Refs A and B).


5. (S/NF) As post reported (ref A),the GOK has submitted
an inaccurate filing with the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) concerning the proposed IBB transmitter which
misstated the technical parameters of the proposed station,
claiming that the frequency would be used by a
non-directional, lower power transmitter. The Department
understands that in May 2009, Kuwait Ministry of Information
officials requested that IBB submit technical parameters for
the new transmitter to match the inaccurate parameters the

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GOK filed with the ITU. Following interagency discussion of
this issue, the Department has concluded that the United
States is not prepared to submit inaccurate information in
support of Kuwait's inaccurate ITU filing.

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ACTION REQUEST
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6. (C) Action Request. Ambassador is requested to approach
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah to seek
approval from the Kuwaiti government to grant formal, written
permission to utilize the IBB transmitter at the 1386 KHz
frequency on a Non-Interference Basis (NIB). Ambassador is
requested to draw from the talking points in paragraph 7, and
to use the responses to the "If Raised" questions in
paragraph 8 if pressed by the Foreign Minister. Post should
not provide the Foreign Minister with a copy of the talking
points.


7. (C//REL KUWAIT) BEGIN TALKING POINTS:

-- The U.S. and Kuwait have a candid and ongoing dialogue
about Iran. We share many of the same concerns about Iran's
covert effort to develop a nuclear weapons capability and the
destabilizing regional impact of Iran's actions. The U.S.
uses a wide array of "tools" to try to affect positive change
in Iran, including diplomatic engagement, sanctions, and
public diplomacy tools such as Radio Farda.

-- U.S. policy towards Iran seeks to change Iranian policies
that the U.S. and the international community view as
destabilizing. Iran's destabilizing policies include not
only its effort to achieve a nuclear weapons capability and
its activities in the region, but the steps the Iranian
government takes to limit freedom of expression and its
disregard for human rights. Much like Iran's failure to
adhere to its international obligations on the nuclear front,
Iran has failed to adhere to its obligation to secure and
protect the basic freedoms and human rights of its people.
Radio Farda provides millions of listeners in Iran with
unbiased information on events inside Iran, thereby enhancing
accountability and bringing to light issues that the Iranian
government seeks to hide.

-- In 2006, the U.S. Congress appropriated $12 million to
enhance BBG's coverage of Iran by maximizing our ability to
bring Radio Farda to listeners in Iran. There is strong,
bipartisan support for Radio Farda in the U.S. Congress.

-- Using the funding from 2006, BBG has constructed a $5.2
million medium wave transmitter at IBB's facility in Kuwait.
Kuwait was selected as the site for the transmitter based on
the very positive relationship that exists between IBB and
the Ministry of Information. IBB has operated a facility in
Kuwait since 1993, and operates four transmitters on a short
wave and two transmitters on a medium wave. We have a long
history of successful cooperation to build upon. Kuwait was
also selected due to its geographic location, which will
allow the transmitter to deliver a strong signal to Iran.

-- Currently, BBG is broadcasting Radio Farda on only one
medium wave frequency. Having a second medium wave frequency
is highly desirable and will make it harder for Radio Farda
broadcasts to be jammed by the Iranian government.

-- We expect that the transmitter will be completed and ready
to broadcast in early 2010. We request that your government
provide formal, written approval authorizing operation of the
transmitter at the 1386 KHz frequency on a Non-Interference
Basis, in accordance with our original request from December

2006. IBB has made this request to Ministry of Information
officials numerous times over the past several years, and I
have also raised this with Minister of Oil and Information
Shaykh Ahmed. We need your government's support for this
project to succeed, enabling us to bring ideas, information,
and the spirit of freedom to the people of Iran.

-- Kuwait has always been extremely generous in support of
U.S. efforts to bring peace, security, and freedom to the
region. We hope that as a testament to our shared goals in
the region and shared values, and in recognition of the
strong bilateral relationship between Kuwait and the U.S.,
you will agree to our request.



8. (C//REL KUWAIT) "IF RAISED" TALKING POINTS:

-- Q: Where is the U.S. currently transmitting Radio Farda
from? Why isn't that adequate? Is the U.S. transmitting
Radio Farda from other countries in the region?

STATE 00119316 003 OF 003


-- A: The BBG is currently transmitting Radio Farda on
Medium Wave (MW) and Short Wave (SW) bands from the UAE (MW
from a leased facility),Germany (SW from IBB and leased
facilities),Kuwait (SW from an IBB facility),Sri Lanka (SW
from an IBB facility),and Thailand (SW from an IBB
facility). BBG's broadcasts of Radio Farda from Kuwait are
part of a broader package of programming, which include Radio
Sawa and other programs which are intended for audiences in
Iraq. Having a second MW frequency is highly desirable, as
this allows us to maximize listenership and makes it more
difficult for our broadcasts to be jammed by Iranian
authorities.

-- Q: If we grant authorization to transmit on a NIB, will
the Iranian government know that Radio Farda is being
broadcast from Kuwaiti soil? Can anything be done to avoid
this?

-- A: There is no practical way to hide the fact that Radio
Farda broadcasts would be originating from Kuwait. The
project has required several contracts with associated public
notices that clearly show we are building a high power
broadcasting facility in Kuwait on the frequency in question.
When Kuwait submitted frequency registration information to
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for this
facility, Kuwait identified it as an IBB transmitter, so the
Iranian government is already aware of the project. Further,
even if no public information were available, the strong
radio signal would be relatively easy to trace. However,
Kuwait is not the only transmission point for Radio Farda.

-- Q: Doesn't the Iranian government view Radio Farda
broadcasts as an effort by the USG to undermine the Iranian
regime? Won't the Iranian government view these broadcasts
as hostile and aggressive?

-- A: Radio Farda does not promote regime change in Iran nor
is it working to undermine the Iranian government. Radio
Farda promotes a core universal value - the free flow of
ideas. Freedom of expression and the free flow of ideas are
essential American values that are, as President Obama has
noted, truly universal.

-- Q: Why won't the U.S. file data in support of Kuwait's
ITU filing? Wouldn't doing so allow the U.S. to begin
broadcasting and avoid unnecessary backlash from the Iranian
government to Kuwait?

-- A: The ITU is an important UN agency, and one in which
the USG plays a leading role. Unfortunately, the Kuwaiti ITU
filing concerning the planned IBB transmitter is not
accurate. The U.S. is unwilling to submit similarly
inaccurate information to the ITU since such an inaccurate
filing, once discovered, would seriously harm U.S.
credibility and stature in the ITU. Indeed, once Iran
discovered that the U.S. and Kuwaiti governments had
submitted inaccurate registration information to the ITU,
such information could provide an additional basis for
Iranian objections and complicate our engagement with Iran.
Further, we do not believe that a completed ITU filing in
this case is helpful since Iran could object to such a filing
in any case. For that reason, we are requesting authority to
operate the IBB transmitter on a NIB under ITU rules, which
does not require an ITU registration.

-- Q: Kuwait is concerned about how the Iranian government
will react when they find out we have allowed Radio Farda to
be broadcast from Kuwaiti soil at such strength. Is there
anything the U.S. can do to address our concerns?

-- A: We understand your concerns. We hope you understand
the importance of Radio Farda as one of the tools we use to
bring ideas, information, and the spirit of freedom to the
people of Iran.

END TALKING POINTS

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REPORTING DEADLINE
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9. (U) Post is requested to report response via front
channel cable by December 10, 2009.
CLINTON