Broadcasting Board of Governors in the United States

The Broadcasting Board of Governors promotes freedom and democracy by
broadcasting accurate, objective, and balanced news and information about the
United States and the world to audiences abroad.

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) became an independent agency
on October 1, 1999, by authority of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6501 note). It is composed of nine members. Eight
members are appointed by the President and con?rmed by the Senate; the ninth,
an ex of?cio member, is the Secretary of State.

The BBG serves as the governing body for all nonmilitary U.S. broadcasting and
provides programming in 56 languages via radio, television, and the Internet.
The BBG broadcast services include the Voice of America, the Office of Cuba
Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle
East Broadcasting Networks.

All BBG broadcast services adhere to the broadcasting standards and principles
of the International Broadcasting Act of 1994, which include reliable, accurate,
and comprehensive news; balanced and comprehensive presentations of
U.S. thought, institutions, and policies, as well as discussions about those
policies; information about developments throughout the world; and a variety of
opinions from nations around the world.

Activities

International Broadcasting Bureau

The International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) provides human resource, EEO,
procurement, security, information technology, public affairs, administrative,
research, and program evaluation services to the Voice of America
and Radio/TV Marti. It also provides marketing, program placement, and
transmission services for all the BBG broadcast organizations, managing a
global network of transmitting sites and an extensive system of leased satellite
and ?ber optic circuits, along with a rapidly growing Internet delivery system.

The IBB Office of Policy produces U.S. Government editorials broadcast daily on
VOA. Internet, www.ibb.gov.

Voice of America

Voice of America (VOA) is an independent international multimedia broadcasting service of the U.S. Government. VOA broadcasts more
than 1,000 hours a week, which include U.S. and international news, features, and
educational and cultural programs about the United States and the world, to more
than 115 million people worldwide. VOA programs are produced and broadcast
in 44 languages. More than 1,200 VOA af?liate radio and television stations
around the world download programs through satellite and digital audio (MP3)
technology. Internet, www.voanews.com. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is an international communications
service to Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central and Southwestern Asia.
Concentrating on domestic events and international news, RFE/RL has
for more than 50 years provided its 35 million listeners with balanced
and reliable information to bolster democratic development and civil society
in countries struggling to overcome autocratic institutions, violations of
human rights, centralized economies, ethnic and religious hostilities, regional
con?icts, and controlled media. A not- for-pro?t corporation, RFE/RL is funded
by a Federal grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Internet, www.rferl.org.

Radio Free Asia

Radio Free Asia (RFA) is an independent, nonpro?t organization broadcasting and publishing information online in nine East Asian languages,
including Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Tibetan, Uighur,
and Vietnamese. RFA provides news and BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS 317 information related speci?cally to the
people in East Asia who are censored from of?cially sanctioned domestic
media. All language services are staffed and directed by native speakers
and maintain Web sites which offer podcasting, syndication, and feedback
options, while several services also offer regular toll-free hotlines to callers in Asia.
RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Internet, www.rfa.org.

Middle East Broadcasting Networks

The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., is a nonpro?t corporation that
operates the Arabic language Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa networks. Alhurra
TV broadcasts to 22 countries in the Middle East via satellite. Its schedule
includes up-to-the-minute newscasts, documentaries, discussion programs, and
other programs on a variety of subjects. Radio Sawa broadcasts on FM and AM
to major Middle Eastern countries. It also seeks to reach a signi?cant portion of the
under-30 population with a combination of news, opinion features, and a blend of
mainstream Western and Arabic music.
Internet, www.radiosawa.com and www.alhurra.com.

Office of Cuba Broadcasting

The Office of Cuba Broadcasting oversees Radio Marti and TV Marti. These two
Spanish language services provide news about Cuba and the world, features, and
entertainment programs aimed at Cuba.

Based in Miami, these comprehensive and timely broadcasts offer Cubans the
opportunity to receive un?ltered and accurate information. Radio and TV Marti
are disseminated through medium wave (AM), shortwave, Internet, satellite, and
special transmissions. Internet, www.martinoticias.org.

For further information, contact the Office of Public Affairs, Broadcasting Board of Governors, 330 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20237. Phone, 202–203–4959. Fax, 202–203–4960. Email, publicaffairs@ibb.gov. Internet, http://www.bbg.gov