audience. >> host: where are you based, employees, budget? >> guest: based out of miami with approximately 126 employees. our budget for this year is $28.5 million, and it's breaking down, obviously, in different parts, but we are in miami. we also have reporters in washington, new york. we have stringers in different parts of land america or europe where the content of those countries we might deem relevant to our audience. >> host: how do you get radio tv and tv broadcast into cuba? what method? >> guest: radio, we use a.m.. we have a retransmission station in marathon, florida. we use short wave. tv, we use a direct tv satellite. we use a hipsa satellite, the

airplane, and we also use non-traditional methods to get our tv content into the island, which we've been very successful in the last month and a half. >> host: such as? >> guest: flash drives and dvds. >> host: really? >> guest: it's been fabulous. we've done 23 focus groups since i've been there a year and a week, and what we found out is people in cuba really look for -- they want news. they definitely want news, and when they think news, it's anything relevant to the focus group, and they mention the martiz. it's a sense of reliable news for them, but they also watch tv using dvds and flash drives. they don't like the cuban television. our tv, you know, they don't struggle to watch it, but, you know, it's not easy to get anyways, and cuban security always pays attention whether

you watch tv or listening to radio, and so the flash drives and dvds are a successful method. >> host: do you smuggle them in? >> guest: we don't smuggle them, but through legal means. >> host: like the mail? >> guest: yeah. we're in contact with people in cuba constantly, and people call into our sports show. the other day we got a call if one of our -- call from one of our audience saying i'm missing game six and seven of the world series. we were delighted to hear that, so we sent it to him. >> host: you say you have all these different methods. what kind of reach do you have into cuba? >> guest: it's a very good question, and it's something i ask myself when i first got there. how do i measure my and; right? not my success, but the institution's success. by the calls and e-mails we get, text messages we get, by the

increased participation that we've seen on our programs, we know we're being successful. the other component is we've seen the cuban government react to our initiatives as of the last two or three months. they had a rate of tv antennas and satellite dishes. last week or the week before, so we know it's difficult to scientifically measure the audience because we can't walk around cuba with a clipboard whether they watch or listen, but that's how we know, and we're very, very happy with the results. >> host: one more question. how do you conduct focus groups? >> guest: we're a miami station; right? , well, we're not a miami station, but we're located in miami, but we service a market that's outside the city, which is cuba, and we focus on cuba,

so what we did was do focus groups on recent arrivals into miami to understand the daily lives of our audience. we cannot operate in a vacuum. we have to know how they get their food, go to baseballs, how they listen to radio. we need to know how they use internet, cell phones, so we have done extensive research on really understanding our audience, which has created that we have change some of our programs in the way we broadcast news. our news is relevant to our audience in cuba. >> host: matt lee? >> guest: back to the idea of audience penetration and how you know the money, the $28.5 million your yearly budget is is actually the product of that is getting to people in cuba. i don't think anybody argues it's not a good idea to transmit unbiased or news into cuba, but,

i mean, the last time i'm aware of there was a study done was a ga report from two years ago, predating your arrival there, that found less than 1% of the cuban population was able to see either television marti or hear radio marti due to the cuban jamming of the signals. have you seen change in that, and when you talk about your focus groups with recent arrivals, are you convinced those groups are giving you -- giving you an accurate assessment that the audience is larger or the potential audience is larger than the 1% that the gao found? >> guest: before i took the job, i read all of those reports, and i looked at kind of my basis, because, you know, you have to listen to all sides. let me start with the focus groups.

the focus groups, we're not asking them whether they listen to radio and tv marti. we're exploring and understanding the daily lives of our audience. my previous comment was based on the fact that unsolicited and irrelevant to the focus group or the topic of that focus group, generally, they say we get our news from radio and tv marti. more from radio than tv. how do we know people are listening and watching is based on probably the things i already expressed. i mean, there's surveys also. in 2010, we've done research that show that 40% of -- this is 2010 -- 40% of listeners or people that we asked listen to radio marti during the last year that they were in cuba or whatever, and 6% on tv.

now, it's a challenge like it is in north korea; right? that's why we have become a multimedia platform. we try to get our message any way we can because that's really, you know, we have a government that doesn't want people to obtain information, and we are doing that, i believe, successfully because i'm at the station long hours, and you see the reaction from people. you, you know, you see them participate on our shows. >> guest: does that mean that the jamming is somehow lessened or does it mean people find wayings to get -- ways to get around this? i know you have an extensive web presence, but given the internet restrictions there are for people in cuba, the major audience for that is cuban exiles in the miami area who have greater access to the internet than in cuba. how do you tell people are

seeing your stuff online in cuba? >> guest: let me talk about the internet because you mention it. the internet, the majority does not come from the united states. if you look at where the servers are located, they accessing our website, the majority is from the united states, but the second and third and fourth countries are spain, canada, argentina, mexico. that's the last ranking i saw. >> host: cuban exiles, no? >> guest: no, no. in cuba it's easier to access those servers than inside the united states. that's one thing. the other thing that we have, it's a very strong campaign on proxy sites. we have proxy sites now that we promote on normal platforms where people in cuba can't access our website encrypted, and the government cannot follow what is it they are doing because of the restrictions, and please remind me, there was another question i want to

answer. i went off on the internet. i can't remember the other. >> guest: well, i mean, it was just along the same lines. i mean, do you -- how do you -- do you see -- how do you quantify the improvement in your audience in cuba itself? this would be related to the broadcast and to the broadcast on both radio and television. >> guest: right. you mentioned jamming, has it got worse or less. you know, i don't know that. i don't know what the cuban government -- we don't react to what the cube ban government does -- cuban government does. we have our content, and deliver it, and that's what we really care about. we have shows that i'm in my office listening, and our talent has had to ask the person calling in, please lower your volume because we're getting feedback. you know, that's very telling. i'm not saying that everybody in that town is listening -- >> host: calls from cuba?

>> guest: absolutely, absolutely. we focus on cuba, you know, and we focus on the people of cuba, and that's really what we target. we get them the news programs. >> guest: you had negative reactions from the cuban government recently over the last couple months including a raiding of the television equipment places. >> guest: correct. >> guest: is there anything to suggest there's been positive -- any of the changes, these recent, very slight moves towards liberalizing the economy, allowing people to sell -- used cars, allowing farmers to sell directly to some hotels, that kind of thing. any way that you can point to recent positive actions or what we would consider positive actions by the cuban government in terms of reform in terms of your broadcast and perhaps people's demand for these changes? >> guest: well, we have reported on these changes, and what we've noticed is that the

legalization of selling cars, for example, it was something that was going on inside the island. all they did was legalize an illegal activity. buying and selling a house or home in cuba was difficult, but they were getting around it, so they have legalized that also, so what we seen is that the civil society or i like to call it our audience, but our -- the civil society in cuba pushed the government. that's what we've seen and that's what we're reporting, to make these reforms, and that's what we're reporting on. in terms of having -- allowing them to watch us or listen to us, that has not got any better. we went to interview -- we went to a conference last friday where there was a cue babe diplomat there, and our reporter approached the gentleman to interview him, and he was shut down by a professor from the

university, but, you know, that's -- it's still there, unfortunately, still there. we work with that. i mean, again, we are providing the free flow of information to our add yengs, and that's what we focus on. >> guest: right, but a lot of people have talked about al jazeera and its impact in the arab spring in the middle east and north africa and how it is perhaps not fermenting this unrest, but giving people in that region unsanitized, ungovernment sanitized news. is there a role for radio tv marti in driving changes in cuba and perhaps affect a change, a governmental change that sees the end of castro's iron fist? >> guest: well, yes. aside from the reforms, we've seen many, many more arrests this year than last year, and

that's not because the regime is more aggressive. it is because more people are coming out and protesting, you know, i can't have a steak. one woman was saying that one day, and fidel's wife is cooking is steak tonight. why can't i do that? that was the kind of facts that we are, you know, reporting, if you will, inside the io dand to allow them -- island to allow them to make the decision and educated decisions towards their future. >> host: this is c-span's communicators program, our guest, carlos gar garcia-perez, and mat lee is our guest reporter. i just want to follow-up on the jamming. how sophisticated are our methods and the cuban methods to prevent prod cast reaching the island? >> guest: i'll answer the

following way. when i got there, they knew they were going to pass the ball, but who was going to run the ball; right? i don't know they know that anymore. it's precisely one of the things we focused on. focus on transmissions. they try to jam us. there's still noise on some frequencies depending on the time of the day and atmosphere. for example, through text messages and e-mail, we know we can deliver a lot of news to our audience, and we do that, constantly. >> guest: what's the most popular programming that you have? is it sports? >> guest: sports is popular. the news, they really want to hear the news, but we have to put it into context or perspective. to listen or watch the marti is cuba is 5 crime. we would talk about this in our station all the time. we have to be damn good so somebody can take the risk so the sports is very popular, and our news, which has come up on

the focus groups repeatedly is something as very popular. >> host: okay. let's take a look at one of your newscasts. let's look at this, and then we'll have you talk about it. >> guest: sure. ♪ [speaking spanish] [speaking spanish] >> host: okay, we can see the lead story was about the pope, but if you can explain that story to us, we'll keep watching the video here a little bit. >> guest: sure. i can explain the show. i can't explain exactly the news piece. >> host: sure. >> guest: the show is we're providing the news of seven days

in 30 minutes, and this format is appealable, if you will, to our audience because in 30 minutes they can know what's going on in seven days, and there's a lot of stuff going on in cuba that you have to know every day. how are you going to feed your family? this is very convenient, and in 30 minutes they get good production values, a good show, and we keep you up to date on what's going on in the world. >> host: it's different than voa or perhaps al hura that broadcasts into other countries. your broadcasting news about cuba into cuba; is that correct? >> guest: correct, but we also report nudes about the united states. it's very important that we do that, but more than that, we also broadcast news from latin america and the rest of the world because it's important for our audience to understand there

are countries that are sovereign and free that can -- and democratic -- and there's a future, you know, we want to insert the audience into the economic world again, you know? you know, the relationship with cuba and the united states, once there's a democracy, there's a no-brainer; right? they are 90 miles away, but we also want to inform them of what's going on in the rest of the world because i think, you know, we think it's something important. i mean, it's a global village now; right? it's not about one country or the other. >> guest: what would you say the percentage of cuba news is? >> guest: that the priority. as much as we can get. >> guest: how do you get it? >> guest: through -- because i'm here, you know, for a long time, we've had relationships with people inside the island that report to us different incidents that are going on. >> guest: right. >> guest: more people are calling in and telling us about facts and news and facts inside the island. it's like a citizen based news

gathering. >> guest: i understand there had been instances where the cuban government planted wild stories with radio and television marti reported as news which were not true, events not true, and the gao report talked about earlier, from, again, two years ago, made mention of some standards not quite up to par. one, have those problems that the gao identified been addressed, and second, how do you respond to the cuban government's claim that sometimes your stations are perhaps a bit gullible in reporting things that they've made up? >> guest: first of all, we adhere to very strict journalism standards, and you're a journalist, and you're a journalist so you know that means double sources, you know, the reports, and in an environment like cuba, it's very tough, but we -- and i come from

the outside. i sat in those editorial meetings. they really make a good effort to get it done, and they don't air it unless they have confirmation, so that's the answer to one of your questions. the printing of the news, we had one in february call the station on saturday night and said that he was an agent. we have nothing to hide. all he reported was the alleged false reports as we all know every saturday, they come out, do a great job. you know, it's going to happen. that's the type of environment that our audience works. they don't know who their neighbor is or any state security agents. we have to be very careful. that's the price we pay. we're careful with it. we don't hide it. i'm sorry. when it came out and called the station saying i'm agent amelio, i'll never forget it. i said put it on the website,

people should know that, you know? >> host: so mr. garcia, is any of your news about cuba pro-castro, all anti-castro, is there news balance in there, or does it veer towards propaganda? >> guest: very good question. it's difficult to report something good is happening on the island. we'll lose the audience. that's what they supposedly get from the cuban government all the time. cuba's fine, it's the greatest place in the world. we're not propaganda. we give them hard news. when something good happens, and i underline when, we'll provide that. they can rely on us to get truthful and objective information. >> host: do you think that radio and tv marti should be available to u.s. citizens to listen to? >> guest: it's available through the internet now, you know? it's available through the internet now. there's a law, but that's, you

know, that's kind of difficult because, you know, the change -- there's so much change in communication and the distribution of content. you know, radio and tv marti is not focused on the u.s.. the more audience, the better, but we really focus on the island. every morning we say, how are we going to deliver the message to the island? how do we get the news out, the programs into the island. >> host: what's your background? >> guest: i was a trial lawyer for 20 years. >> host: where? >> in puerto rico, and this call came -- >> host: were you politically active in democratic party? >> guest: i was not, but active in the future of cuba. >> host: are you cuban? >> guest: born in miami, family is cuban, and i grew up in puerto rico. you pick. >> host: okay. >> guest: the call came, we have this issue, are you willing to help?

i said, sure. i moved my family in december of last year to miami, and i'm having a wonderful time, and this is very gratifying job. i really appreciate the opportunity, and i've, you know, we have a great board at the bbg. they supported, you know, everything that we're doing, and, you know, this has been tremendous. >> host: well, one of the issues, very quickly, about the broadcasting board of governors is potentially moving radio and tv marti to washington making it more part of a whole rather than a separate entity. what do you think about that? >> guest: well, the strategy now at the bbg as i understand it is to move our operations closer to our audience; right? so as i understand the strategy now is del marti will be front and center or the hub of the latin america strategy for the bbg. we're focused on cuba, very much focused on cuba, but we're also

going to do sharing with voa which we already do, and it's working out great. >> host: mr. lee? >> guest: i wanted to ask a question about a specific case, and that's the case of alan gross, the american imprisoned on espionage for connecting the cuban jewish community with the internet. how has that played into your reporting, if at all? is this a topic you color often? it's become a caused celebra not just in the cuban community, but the jewish community. >> guest: sure. mr. alan gross is in jail, and he was tried, and i have a legal background, and i've never seen appeal or trial go so fast. we're very conscious of it. we follow it. you know, we don't talk about it all the time because we're not propgan propaganda. we give news, we're aware of it, and we try to obtain as much

facts as we can on the case. >> guest: okay. the broader question of the bbg and radio tv marti along with the other bbg components, al hora, the voa, that thing. we have a difficult budget situation coming up, no agency is likely to escape. i presume that you would argue that the bbg -- that the radio and television marti are worth the investment. how will you -- how can you demonstrate that to members of congress outside of the anti-castro, the fervent anti-castro lawmakers who support anything that's designed to subvert the regime? how do you convince them that your service is necessary and is good for u.s. foreign policy or good for the cuban people? >> guest: that's a very good question. one of the things that i did since i got here, and this is part of the bbg's strategy is i

met with numerous senators and representatives on the hill, not only, you know, the cuban-americans that give us great support because i think the work that we're doing at the marti needs to get out. i'm in washington, you know, twice -- like every week -- they think it's every day, but it's like every week, and i'm getting, you know, i'm getting the word out there. i used to defend clients. i don't need to defend the marti. it's a very valuable asset to the united states and for the future of cuba and the united states. we're doing great work there. we have great professionals there before i got there. it's really an honor and privilege belong to that organization and to lead it. i have no issue defending our budget. i actually think once i have all the efficiencies in place, and i have a better understanding and more breakthroughs in delivering the content, we might need more money because, you know, i think

it's that valuable, so -- >> host: in our discussions with al hora and voa, they talked about social media, is that available in cuba, and have you used it as well? >> guest: we have. it's limited. i don't want to say -- it's very limited. there's bloggers, facebook activity, twitter activity. we have found out about arrests and events through text messaging and twitter so they are using it more. they are still, you know, restrictions to get it to the internet, it's an issue, but because we're a multimedia platform, we try to know that our radio listeners understand what a blogger is because they need to understand that it's out there. they need to understand what, you know, facebook is, what twitter is, so text messaging, so we have shows also whether we teach our audience, look, this is how you tweet and send text messages to the outside world, so, you know, we're very active in the new media.

>> host: time for one more question. >> guest: sure. how do you see the future of radio tv marti? numerous administration, many, since the 1960s went broke waiting for the castro regime to go, to fall into the caribbean, and it hasn't yet, but eventually, this is going to happen. do you foresee a future for radio tv marti post-castro cuba? say there's an democracy. are you building an audience now you think you can leverage once there is a democracy in cuba, that you could be the most popular television, radio, media outlet in a free democratic cuba? >> guest: you just expressed the future of marti better than i can. >> guest: okay, you're not going to shut down? >> guest: no. he's been dying since he was conceived, so we have to be patient. there's very positive change going on on the island, and we're reporting, and we're very

hopeful that something possible happens soon. >> host: carlos garcia-perez works for radio and tv marti and matt lee covers for the "associated press."

>> the u.s. agency for