lion dollar budget. It was named for Cuban-independence was patriot, Jose Marti, and was supposed to be better than Radio Marti. But from the start it faced technological problems. For one TV Marti operates from a floating transmitter, which proved easier to jam than short-wave radio. Cuban officials jammed the TV Mart signal by transmitting Cuban programs on the same channel. Jamming American radio and television signals has, to date, been the most politically and economically effective tactic employed by the Castor regime. (Bayer 541) Perhaps Castor is very much aware that American radio stations are only as successful as the number of listeners they attract. By reducing the number of possible radio listeners through jamming of US stations, Castor may be injuring the American radio broadcast industry where it hurts most, financially. Although both Radio Mart and TV Mart have become permanent fixtures of Cuban life, frequent interference by Cuba has also become a concern of numerous radio stations throughout the United States. The United States refused to take military action against Cuba for jamming its signals. Instead, President Clinton's administration compiled a six-tiered plan of political and economic sanctions against the Island. (Bayer 541) Among these sanctions, Clinton ordered increased support for Radio Mart to overcome jamming by the Cuban government. (Bayer 541) The administration authorized an additional two million dollars in funding to increase reception of US government broadcasts in Cuba. (Bayer 541) The US also sought international condemnation of Cuba's actions through the United Nations. (Bayer 541) In short, this latest incident, and the actions resulting there from, demonstrates two critical factors. (541) First, the United States still views the use of radio broadcasts into Cuba as a necessary and effective weapon in its war against communism. (Bayer 541) Second, any future negotiation between these two countri...
