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
 
 
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