April 8 , 2004

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Good News For Cantonese Service

The chair of the Broadcasting Board of Governors has told Congress RFA’s Cantonese broadcasts will continue.

This comes after intense lobbying of Congress by the Guild.

Representatives of the Guild met with several lawmakers over the last few weeks. We found members of Congress strongly opposed to the BBG’s decision to end Cantonese broadcasts.

Among those supporting us was Virginia Republican Congressman Frank Wolf. Wolf chairs the House subcommittee that oversees the BBG. Virginia Democratic Congressman Jim Moran and Maryland Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski also both strongly supported our position.

At a hearing last week, Congressman Wolf pressured BBG Chair Kenneth Tomlinson to continue the Cantonese broadcasts. Tomlinson agreed they would continue.

It isn’t clear yet whether all the proposed cuts are being restored or whether hours of broadcast and jobs could still be cut. We have asked RFA to clarify this and we will tell you when we find out.

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