22 U.S. Code § 1461–1a - Clarification on domestic distribution of program material

(a) In general

No funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State or the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall be used to influence public opinion in the United States. This section shall apply only to programs carried out pursuant to the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.), the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act (22 U.S.C. 1465 et seq.), and the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act (22 U.S.C. 1465aa et seq.). This section shall not prohibit or delay the Department of State or the Broadcasting Board of Governors from providing information about its operations, policies, programs, or program material, or making such available, to the media, public, or Congress, in accordance with other applicable law.

(b) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Department of State or the Broadcasting Board of Governors from engaging in any medium or form of communication, either directly or indirectly, because a United States domestic audience is or may be thereby exposed to program material, or based on a presumption of such exposure. Such material may be made available within the United States and disseminated, when appropriate, pursuant to sections 502 and 1005 of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1462 and 1437), except that nothing in this section may be construed to authorize the Department of State or the Broadcasting Board of Governors to disseminate within the United States any program material prepared for dissemination abroad on or before the effective date of section 1078 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.

(c) Application

The provisions of this section shall apply only to the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors and to no other department or agency of the Federal Government.

(Pub. L. 99–93, title II, § 208, Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 431; Pub. L. 103–236, title II, § 232, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 424; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1078(c), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1958.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, referred to in subsec. (a), is act Jan. 27, 1948, ch. 36, 62 Stat. 6, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1431 of this title and Tables.

The United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994, referred to in subsec. (a), is title III of Pub. L. 103–236, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 432, which is classified principally to chapter 71 (§ 6201 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6201 of this title and Tables.

The Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 98–111, Oct. 4, 1983, 97 Stat. 749, which is classified generally to subchapter V–A (§ 1465 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1465 of this title and Tables.

The Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is part D of title II of Pub. L. 101–246, Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 58, which is classified principally to subchapter V–B (§ 1465aa et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1465aa of this title and Tables.

For the effective date of section 1078 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 [Pub. L. 112–239], referred to in subsec. (b), see section 1078(e) of Pub. L. 112–239, set out as an Effective Date of 2013 Amendment note under section 1437 of this title.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987, and not as part of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2013—Pub. L. 112–239 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Except as provided in section 1461 of this title and this section, no funds authorized to be appropriated to the United States Information Agency shall be used to influence public opinion in the United States, and no program material prepared by the United States Information Agency shall be distributed within the United States. This section shall not apply to programs carried out pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.). The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the United States Information Agency from responding to inquiries from members of the public about its operations, policies, or programs.”

1994—Pub. L. 103–236 inserted at end “The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the United States Information Agency from responding to inquiries from members of the public about its operations, policies, or programs.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Broadcasting Board of Governors renamed United States Agency for Global Media pursuant to section 6204(a)(21) of this title. The renaming was effectuated by notice to congressional appropriations committees dated May 24, 2018, and became effective Aug. 22, 2018.

Effective Date of 2013 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–239 effective and applicable on the date that is 180 days after Jan. 2, 2013, see section 1078(e) of Pub. L. 112–239, set out as a note under section 1437 of this title.