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Voice of America: Station Modernization Projects Need to Be Justified

NSIAD-94-69 Published: Jan 24, 1994. Publicly Released: Jan 24, 1994.
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Highlights

GAO reviewed the issues associated with consolidating Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and the Voice of America (VOA) within the U.S. Information Agency's (USIA) Bureau of Broadcasting, focusing on whether VOA: (1) adequately considered the changing world conditions and new technology in its plans to build new stations and modernize existing ones; and (2) supported its modernization projects with fully documented cost-benefit analyses.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Information Agency The Director, USIA, should direct the Associate Director, Bureau of Broadcasting, to require fully documented cost-benefit analyses for all VOA shortwave modernization projects where construction has not yet begun.
Closed – Implemented
USIA advised GAO that its Bureau of Broadcasting has implemented the cost-benefit analyses consistent with the specific criteria outlined in the GAO report. These analyses were done for the last remaining shortwave station modernization project.
United States Information Agency USIA should use the project alternatives assessment process developed in response to our 1992 report.
Closed – Implemented
The Bureau of Broadcasting used the project alternative assessment process in evaluating its new Pacific Island shortwave station. This process was developed in response to a GAO report.

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Topics

Construction costsCost effectiveness analysisFederal agency reorganizationInternational relationsPublic diplomacyRadioRadio broadcastingInternational broadcastingShortwave radioConstruction