Save The Delano VOA

The last remaining intact Voice of America shortwave broadcast facility in Delano, California is facing destruction unless we act now to save a vital part of our cultural heritage. The Voice of America radio service was not only important to deployed troops and Americans working overseas, it also provided oppressed people around the world a window onto a free society.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• VOA
• Voice
• of
• America
• shortwave
• Delano
• James
• O'Neal
• Mike
• Dorrough

[Oldcrotch]

Strange fact, shortwave is so "Obsolete" that as soon as VOA gives up a frequency, the People's Republic of China PICKS IT UP.

Giving up frequencys and shutting down these facilities was extremely shortsighted. Refugee camps are not "Cable Ready", contrary to what some "Analysts" would have decision makers believe, Radio is still alive and well in the majority of the world as a cheap, easy to manage and concealable medium.

[mm3sgq]

Excellent video.

Radio (shortwave) has been the beating heart of many peoples lives, in the past present and will be in the futurte. For millions of people the internet will never happen.

I know technology and the likes move on but radio is and always has been unique and should never be undermind by new technology.

This is something that should never change.

However, as this video demonstrates, there are some who wish to see the end of shortwave and its history.

[hxo20292]

As famous as the Empire State Building???  ahhh I don't think so

[Rthomassc]

In my teen years I was a fan of VOA and RFE. I loved scanning the shortwave frequencies. It pains my heart to think of the stations closing. People around the world listen in daily. As stated in the video Internet can never replace the radio waves of course we do have satelites now that fill the job. What if there is life beyond our little planet the signal goes out to them of our hopes and dreams. (that may seem a bit wild) I feel the need for shortwave broadcasts is still not over.

[stevegrca]

i live in Delano an i did not knew all this ...

[appleman59]

Great video Al. This is so sad to learn. I have many many fond memories of shortwave broadcasts during the cold war years, but today they serve to teach people of other lands about our culture and history. Thanks for this info.

I enjoy listening to your comments on the Liberty Net on Sat eves 10 pm around 3950 LSB. You always have excellent analysis and I have listened to you for over 10 years on there. You are also a great stand-in when Vic is unable to be present! God bless you!

[Gonk]

No need to tear that down, all Delano has is prisons and nothing else. Let us have something of historic importance so not to make this city more shitty then it already is.

We have a bowling ally that's been closed for more then 10years still there wasting space... Delano needs some major help.

[Helga3412]

Ronnie Reagan did nothing to stop the Dixon Relay Station from closing and his best buddy Charlie Wick was head of the VOA. Cong. John Boehner did not to stop the Bethany Relay Station in Ohio from closing and he could see it from his house. So before any one attacks Bill Clinton take a look at what Ronnie and his guys did to save the VOA....nothing. They were the ones who started the decline and fall of the VOA.

[Rich25414]

The USIA was indeed dismantled while Bill Clinton was in office but it was the Republican Congress and specifically Jesse Helm who ended the most effective PR Organization this country has ever known. I have first hand experience because I retired from the VOA/USIA after 25-years of devoted service to tell America's Story to the world. The Republican Congress did not like the truth being told as mandated by JFK with "Warts..pimples..and all." It was truly "The Voice of America." RFS

[analogdino]

Very sad to see those big antenna go down - we might need them one day! As said, SW is strategic in time of war, EMP or other infrastructure demise, e.g. no Internet, so worth keeping. Also, the site might well have been made a commercial success as a museum.

Why does our society throw stuff away so easily? On another topic, what a shame all those WW2 warbirds were scrapped - now only a tiny minority are flying or even on static display (vintage aviation is

another of my interests.)