March 7, 2012
CUSIB Submits Open Letter to House Appropriations Committee in Defense of Broadcasting to Tibet and China
The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting has submitted an open letter to the United States Congress House Appropriations Committee requesting strong support to restore funding in the FY2013 Budget for Voice of America (VOA) radio and television broadcasting to China and Tibet. The letter was co-signed by prominent human rights leaders, American citizens, and freedom fighters.
“It’s a shame that the Broadcasting Board of Governors has proposed specific cuts to eliminate Voice of America’s Cantonese Service and Voice of America’s Tibetan Radio Broadcasts to Tibet,” said Ann Noonan, Executive Director of CUSIB. We’re living in a time when young people throughout the world are seeking democracy and change. I am hopeful that the Board Members who get paid well to oversee the BBG will read our letter and begin to make necessary changes within the BBG that eliminate bureaucratic waste and use the taxpayer dollars that support this federal agency to follow its mission.”
CUSIB Co-founder and Director Ted Lipien stated: “It’s irresponsible for the Broadcasting Board of Governors to eliminate the Voice of America lifeline for the desperate people in Tibet and China while the Chinese regime expands its global broadcasting reach and increases repression at home. It is equally irresponsible for the BBG executives to expand constantly their own bureaucracy even during times of tight budgets while journalists who provide critical human rights reporting to countries without free media are being fired.”
The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB) is an independent, nongovernmental organization which supports free flow of uncensored news from the United States to countries without free media.
For further information, please contact:
The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB)
New York, New York
Ann Noonan, co-founder and Executive Director
Tel. 646-251-6069
Ted Lipien, co-founder and Director
Tel. 415-793-1642
Email: contact@cusib.org
www.cusib.org