April 1993

Unlike most of the rest of the world, where broadcasting. including shortwave broadcasting, grew up as a governmental function, Latin American radio was, from the start, basically private. This was the product of several factors: United States cultural influence in the area, the early presence of U.S.-made radio receivers in the Spanish speaking world, and the relative weakness of the regulatory capabilities of Latin governments during radio's formative years.

Although radio broadcasting came later to Latin America than to the United States, the "radio boom" was no less powerful there than here, and the result was the establishment of many private stations. These were basically BCBers, but many simulcasted their programs on shortwave,

This month we take another of our periodic trips to Cuba to see some more Cuban SW veries.