Radiofication in the Tuvan Autonomous Oblast during the second half of the 1940s

After the accession of the Tuvan People's Republic to the USSR, radio developed rapidly. The Soviet Union allocated considerable funds and engaged experienced experts in order to make radio the main and accessible tool of propaganda in Tuva in short terms. Acting as the main mouthpiece of the party, mass media had to explain the essence of socialist transformation in economy and everyday life to people, mobilize for their implementation and create a high prestige of the party and party jobs. The Tuvan Autonomous Oblast was included into the five-year plan for the restoration and development of the national economy of the USSR for 1946-1950. Initially, funds allocated to broadcasting units were too abundant to be spent in time (out of 250 thousand rubles allocated in 1947, only 103.4 thousand rubles were spent, followed by 300 thousand rubles in 1948). The party preferred wired broadcasting, since continued electricity supply provided constant operation and a relatively high sound quality. The regional board for radio broadcasting networks was charged with setting up radio in Tuva. By 1947, 36 broadcasting centers, 12 power bases and 16.8 km of feeding lines were set up, and there operated four thousand radio receiving stations. Broadcasting centers were of different capacity, depending on the remoteness of the main radio station in the Oblast and the settlement size. A 500-watt-strong unit was set up in Kyzyl; 100-watt units were set up in Turan, Znamenka, Bay-Khaak, Shagonar, Chadan, Barun-Khemchik, Samagaltay and Balgasyn; 25-watt units were set up in Toora-Khem, Uyuk and Erbek. These broadcasting centers were run by power bases and backup batteries. Low-power equipment was provided to broadcasting centers in Medvedevka (10 watt), Tere-Khol, Erzin, Chaa-Khol, Sut-Khol, Ovyur, Khadyn, Ilyinka, Fedorovka, Belbey, Boyarovka, Vladimirovka, Uspenka, Kochetovo, Elegest, Bayan-Kol, Torgalyk and 4 state farms of the Oblast (5 watt each). Schools, local government institutions, state farms, collective farms and military units were first to receive radio broadcasting signals. Thus, simultaneous collective listening to radio broadcasts was made possible. Party activists were regularly debating and explaining the content of radio broadcasts in labor collectives. By virtue of national and cultural traditions, collective verbal forms of information transfer were popular among Tuvinians. The installation and exploitation of a wired network in Tuva required an increase in expenses and efforts, especially so as it was penetrating deep into the province. During the first years, plans for installation of radio receiving stations were not implemented, rural broadcasting centers often stood idle, and sound quality was low. It happened for several reasons, including shortage of electricity supply and power failures, lack of necessary radio materials, and low qualification of supervisory and technical staff. There were difficulties with timely delivery of equipment to remote areas. In 1947, a decision was made to construct a radio station covering all the villages of the Oblast by the broadcasting service. From 1949 on, the Krasnoyarsk broadcasting station covered the Tuvan Autonomous Oblast by its service.

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