§1461–1a Clarification on Domestic Distribution of Program Material

Summary

Money the law allows the Department of State or the Broadcasting Board of Governors to spend cannot be used to try to influence public opinion inside the United States. That rule only covers programs under 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.). It does not stop those offices from telling the media, the public, or Congress about their operations, policies, programs, or materials under other laws. The Department and the Board may use any communication method even if a U.S. audience might see the material. They may make program material available in the United States and share it under sections 502 and 1005 of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1462 and 1437), except they may not distribute in the United States any program material that was prepared for foreign audiences on or before the effective date of section 1078 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. These limits apply only to the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors, not to any other federal agency.