Vatican Radio Agrees to Move a Transmitter
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ROME — Vatican Radio said Friday that it will move one of its main transmitters out of Italy to resolve a dispute over the health effects of its radio waves.
On Friday night, the Vatican and the Italian government announced a compromise to end the dispute, in which Italy’s environment minister at one point threatened to pull the plug on the broadcaster.
Vatican Radio broadcasts Pope John Paul II’s words around the world. It had been under pressure to reduce electromagnetic emissions, which some residents who live near the transmission facility believe are a health hazard.
Under the accord, the Italian government will pay for the Vatican to move its transmitter for medium-wave radio programs. Vatican Radio said in a statement that European transmitting centers have been contacted to try to find a new site by the end of August. No countries were named.
Transmission of shortwave radio will continue at the Italian site, but shorter antennas will be use to reduce emissions, Italian state TV reported.
Earlier this month, Vatican Radio agreed to reduce some shortwave transmissions to comply with Italian regulations.
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