Brief Histories of U.S. Government Agencies Volume Four by Michael Erbschloe - HTML preview

Broadcasting Board of Governors

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is a networked global media agency. The five media organizations that comprise the BBG complement and reinforce one another in a shared mission vital to U.S. national interests: to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. Together, the BBG media organizations communicate each week with more than 278 million people across the globe.

The mission of the Broadcasting Board of Governors is to inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. The Agency’s mission is reinforced by those of the individual broadcasters that are overseen by the BBG. The Board is composed of nine members with expertise in the fields of mass communications, broadcast media, or international affairs. Eight members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The ninth, the Secretary of State, serves ex officio.

BBG oversees a global network of over 90 transmitting sites delivering high frequency, medium wave (AM), FM, and TV broadcasts, and currently leases broadcast time on 15 high power MW and SW transmitting facilities in 14 countries, subject to mission requirements, as well as on many FM and TV stations around the world. BBG also provides anti-censorship support to overcome efforts by other governments to jam BBG broadcasts on radio, television, and the Internet.

Voice of America Charter President Gerald Ford signed the VOA Charter (Public Law 94-350) into law in 1976. It protects the independence and integrity of VOA programming.

The long-range interests of the United States are served by communicating directly with the peoples of the world by radio. To be effective, the Voice of America must win the attention and respect of listeners. These principles will therefore govern Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts:

1. VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA news will be accurate, objective, and comprehensive.
2. VOA will represent America, not any single segment of American society, and will therefore present a balanced and comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions.
3. VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively, and will also present responsible discussions and opinion on these policies.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

RFE/RL’s mission is to promote democratic values and institutions by reporting the news in countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. Our journalists provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Martí)

The Office of Cuba Broadcasting’s mission is to promote freedom and democracy by providing the people of Cuba with objective news and information programming.

Radio Free Asia

Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press.

Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa)

The mission of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks is to provide objective, accurate, and relevant news and information to the people of the Middle East about the region, the world, and the United States. MBN supports democratic values by expanding the spectrum of ideas, opinions, and perspectives available in the region’s media.

As a federal agency, the BBG’s budget request is part of the President’s Budget request to the Congress. The Agency’s mandate comes from multiple pieces of legislation. BBG is accountable to 6 bipartisan House and Senate committees.

(Link: https://www.bbg.gov/who-we-are/)