diff --git a/base/modules/psb_penv_mod.F90 b/base/modules/psb_penv_mod.F90
index a4221f42..ce391c32 100644
--- a/base/modules/psb_penv_mod.F90
+++ b/base/modules/psb_penv_mod.F90
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ module psb_penv_mod
     module procedure psb_ibcasts, psb_ibcastv, psb_ibcastm,&
          & psb_dbcasts, psb_dbcastv, psb_dbcastm,&
          & psb_zbcasts, psb_zbcastv, psb_zbcastm,&
-         & psb_hbcasts, psb_lbcasts, psb_lbcastv
+         & psb_hbcasts, psb_lbcasts, psb_lbcastv, psb_hbcastv1
   end interface
 
 
@@ -546,6 +546,39 @@ contains
 
   end subroutine psb_hbcasts
 
+  subroutine psb_hbcastv1(ictxt,dat,root,length)
+#ifdef MPI_H
+    include 'mpif.h'
+#endif
+#ifdef MPI_MOD
+    use mpi
+#endif
+    integer, intent(in)             :: ictxt
+    character(len=1), intent(inout) :: dat(:)
+    integer, intent(in), optional   :: root,length
+
+    integer  :: iam, np, root_,icomm,length_,info
+
+#if !defined(SERIAL_MPI)
+    if (present(root)) then
+      root_ = root
+    else
+      root_ =  psb_root_
+    endif
+    if (present(length)) then
+      length_ = length
+    else
+      length_ = size(dat)
+    endif
+
+    call psb_info(ictxt,iam,np)
+    call psb_get_mpicomm(ictxt,icomm)
+    
+    call mpi_bcast(dat,length_,MPI_CHARACTER,root_,icomm,info)
+#endif    
+
+  end subroutine psb_hbcastv1
+
   subroutine psb_lbcasts(ictxt,dat,root)
 #ifdef MPI_H
     include 'mpif.h'