International Broadcasting Act
Encyclopedia
Signed in law in 1994 by U.S. President Bill Clinton
, this act was meant to streamline the U.S. international broadcasting and provide a cost-effective way to continue Radio Free Europe
/ Radio Liberty, Voice of America
, and Radio Marti
. It placed control of the international broadcasting under the United States Information Agency.
In the 1960s, President Kennedy to build an international broadcasting arm of the United States to as a way to promote foreign policy and overthrow socialism. In 1976, President Gerald Ford signed the Voice of America charter that established it as the leading branch of US international broadcasting.
In 1993, the Clinton Administration proposed cutting the budget for Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty in order to reduce budget expenditures. However, after working with the Congress, the International Broadcasting Act was born.
(BBG) and also created the International Broadcasting Bureau
(IBB). The BBG is an independent government agency created to replace the Board for International Broadcasting
and consolidate Voice of America
broadcasting.
In this law, the President appoints one member of the board as the Chairman of the board. The Secretary of State also serves on the board.
Besides combining current radio service, this Act also created the Radio Free Asia - a network aimed at Burma, China, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam.
In 2002, the Act was amended to include the Radio Free Afghanistan.
In May 1994, the President announce the continuation of Radio Free Asia after 2009 was dependent on its increased international broadcasting and ability to reach its audience.
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, this act was meant to streamline the U.S. international broadcasting and provide a cost-effective way to continue Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a broadcaster funded by the U.S. Congress that provides news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East "where the free flow of information is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed"...
/ Radio Liberty, Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
, and Radio Marti
Radio Martí
Radio y Televisión Martí is a radio and television broadcaster based in Miami, Florida, financed by the United States government , which transmits Spanish radio broadcasts to Cuba...
. It placed control of the international broadcasting under the United States Information Agency.
History
In 1958, President Eisenhower in an address to the United Nations proposed monitoring radio broadcasts:"I believe that this Assembly should […] consider means for monitoring the radio broadcasts directed across national frontiers in the troubled Near East area. It should then examine complaints from these nations which consider their national security jeopardized by external propaganda."
In the 1960s, President Kennedy to build an international broadcasting arm of the United States to as a way to promote foreign policy and overthrow socialism. In 1976, President Gerald Ford signed the Voice of America charter that established it as the leading branch of US international broadcasting.
In 1993, the Clinton Administration proposed cutting the budget for Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty in order to reduce budget expenditures. However, after working with the Congress, the International Broadcasting Act was born.
Original law
This Act (Public Law 103-236) consolidated all non-military, U.S. Government international broadcast services under a Broadcasting Board of GovernorsBroadcasting Board of Governors
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for all non-military, international broadcasting sponsored by the U.S government. It was previously a department within the United States Information Agency until 1999.-Origins:Starting in...
(BBG) and also created the International Broadcasting Bureau
International Broadcasting Bureau
The International Broadcasting Bureau is an entity within the Broadcasting Board of Governors , which is a U.S. independent agency. The IBB supports the day-to-day operations of Voice of America and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting...
(IBB). The BBG is an independent government agency created to replace the Board for International Broadcasting
Board for International Broadcasting
The Board for International Broadcasting is a commission established in the United States as a privately incorporated organization in 1973 by the International Broadcasting Act of 1973, Public Law 93-129, on October 19, 1973. This primarily covered Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , established as...
and consolidate Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
broadcasting.
In this law, the President appoints one member of the board as the Chairman of the board. The Secretary of State also serves on the board.
Besides combining current radio service, this Act also created the Radio Free Asia - a network aimed at Burma, China, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam.
Congressional updates
In September 2009, the 111th Congress amended the International Broadcasting Act to allow a one year extension of the operation of Radio Free Asia.In 2002, the Act was amended to include the Radio Free Afghanistan.
In May 1994, the President announce the continuation of Radio Free Asia after 2009 was dependent on its increased international broadcasting and ability to reach its audience.