U.S. Policy on Sending Mobile Phones to Cuba Begins Today

U.S. Policy on Sending Mobile Phones to Cuba Begins Today
By Jens Erik Gould | Bloomberg News
8:34 AM EDT, June 13, 2008

The U.S. Commerce Department said that its previously announced policy
of allowing Americans to send cellular phones to family members in Cuba
begins today.

The U.S. expanded the list of items that eligible family members are
able to send on a monthly basis to Cuba and increased the permitted
value of each package to $400,

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said in a statement. President
George W. Bush unveiled the new policy on phone on May 21.

``While the Cuban regime continues to brutally repress its people, it is
touting recent reforms as signs of change,'' Gutierrez said in the
statement. ``In light of Cuba allowing cell phones, as the President
said, the U.S. will now allow Americans to send cell phones to relatives
in Cuba.''

Cuban President Raul Castro lifted restrictions in March on the
ownership of mobile telephones, an indication the leader is willing to
grant more freedoms in the Communist country. Previously, only employees
of foreign companies and certain government workers were allowed to own
cellular phones.

The U.S. Commerce Department regulates American exports to Cuba

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cuba/sfl-0613cubaphones,0,253194.story