Measurements of an rf Gaussian pulse propagating along a coaxial gas discharge indicate that the dispersion suffered by the pulse can be attributed to the anode glow region of the discharge. The signal's group velocity agrees with an approximate theory in which the region between the two conductors is filled with a homogeneous plasma. Large amounts of signal spreading and attenuation are observed near the average electron plasma frequency and are ascribed to collision and intermode coupling losses in the system.