Obama To Ease Cuban Telecom Restrictions
President Obama announced Monday that he will authorize U.S. telecommunications network providers to enter into agreements to establish fiber-optic cable and satellite telecommunications facilities linking the United States to Cuba. Obama said he wants to promote greater interaction between the U.S. and Cuba and will allow U.S. telecom, radio and television service providers to offer services and enter into agreements with Cuban customers and service providers. The White House also said it will "license persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to activate and pay U.S. and third-country service providers for telecommunications, satellite radio and satellite television services provided to individuals in Cuba, except certain senior Communist Party and Cuban government officials." The United States will further allow the export or re-export to Cuba of donated personal communications devices so long as national security concerns are recognized. The White House said Obama took these steps to promote the free flow of information to the Cuban people. In May 2008, then-President George W. Bush announced that Americans soon would be allowed to send cell phones to Cubans. Bush also acknowledged reforms the Castro regime had made toward becoming more technology friendly such as allowing Cubans to purchase mobile phones, DVD players and computers. -- Winter Casey
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus