VOA Tigrigna Service Broadcasting Airtime Extension

February 14, 2006



US Broadcasting Board of Governors

330 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20237

US Department of State



Dear Sirs:



We are listeners from around the world of the Voice of America Tigrigna service who have been enjoying the highly informative and educational program that has been broadcasted by the Tigrigna service reporters. We are writing this to draw your attention to the Monday-to-Friday 30-minute broadcasting airtime of the Voice of America Tigrigna language service.



The VOA Tigrigna service has been providing balanced reports and daily news of the highest and unbiased ethical standards to millions of listeners with origins from two African countries, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The program has also been very effective in promoting American democratic and cultural values to the Tigrigna speaking population across the world.



We also believe that through its popular programs like People to People, Youth etc, the VOA Tigrigna Service is playing a very constructive and useful role in facilitating a common medium for the ordinary peoples of both nations to mutually understand and openly discuss their common issues and problems. However, we find the broadcasting airtime of the program that is merely transmitted on weekdays insufficient to accommodate the needs of the broad spectrum of Tigrigna listeners around the globe.





Your Excellencies,



We, the undersigned listeners of the Voice of America Tigrigna Service all over the world would therefore like to ask the Broadcasting Board to take into consideration the above described circumstances and extend the current weekdays-only Tigrigna language broadcasting period to include additional broadcasting airtime on weekends.



We would like to extend our appreciation for your cooperation in this matter.



Listeners of the Voice of America Tigrigna Service