Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 1465a

Additional functions of Broadcasting Board of Governors

(a)

Radio broadcasting to Cuba

section 1465 of this titleIn order to carry out the objectives set forth in , the Broadcasting Board of Governors (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Board”) shall provide for the open communication of information and ideas through the use of radio broadcasting to Cuba. Radio broadcasting to Cuba shall serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of accurate, objective, and comprehensive news.

(b)

Broadcasting as part of Voice of America

Radio broadcasting in accordance with subsection (a) shall be part of the Voice of America radio broadcasting to Cuba and shall be in accordance with all Voice of America standards to ensure the broadcast of programs which are objective, accurate, balanced, and which present a variety of views.

(c)

Location of broadcast facilities; frequency; leased time from nongovernmental shortwave stations

ProvidedProvided1

1 See References in Text note below.
Radio broadcasting to Cuba authorized by this subchapter shall utilize the broadcasting facilities located at Marathon, Florida, and the 1180 AM frequency that were used by the Voice of America prior to . Other frequencies, not on the commercial Amplitude Modulation (AM) Band (535 kHz to 1605 kHz), may also be simultaneously utilized: , That no frequency shall be used for radio broadcasts to Cuba in accordance with this subchapter which is not also used for all other Voice of America broadcasts to Cuba. Time leased from nongovernmental shortwave radio stations may be used to carry all or part of the Service programs and to rebroadcast Service programs: , That not less than 30 per centum of the programs broadcast or rebroadcast shall be regular Voice of America broadcasts with particular emphasis on news and programs meeting the requirements of section 1463(2)  of this title.

(d)

Changes in frequencies to other AM bands; jamming and interference

1Notwithstanding subsection (c), in the event that broadcasts to Cuba on the 1180 AM frequency are subject to jamming or interference greater by 25 per centum or more than the average daily jamming or interference in the twelve months preceding , the Broadcasting Board of Governors may lease time on commercial or noncommercial educational AM band radio broadcasting stations. The Federal Communications Commission shall determine levels of jamming and interference by conducting regular monitoring of the 1180 AM frequency. In the event that more than two hours a day of time is leased, not less than 30 per centum of the programing broadcast shall be regular Voice of America broadcasts with particular emphasis on news and programs meeting the requirements of section 1463(2)  of this title.

(e)

Voice of America: Cuba Service; Voice of America: Radio Marti program

Any program of United States Government radio broadcasts to Cuba authorized by this section shall be designated “Voice of America: Cuba Service” or “Voice of America: Radio Marti program”.

(f)

Use of other facilities

In the event broadcasting facilities located at Marathon, Florida, are rendered inoperable by natural disaster or by unlawful destruction, the Broadcasting Board of Governors may, for the period in which the facilities are inoperable but not to exceed one hundred and fifty days, use other United States Government-owned transmission facilities for Voice of America broadcasts to Cuba authorized by this subchapter.

Pub. L. 98–111, § 397 Stat. 749Pub. L. 105–277, div. G112 Stat. 2681–780(, , ; , subdiv. A, title XIII, § 1324(1)–(3), , , 2681–781.)

Repeal of Section

section 6063(c)(3) of this titlesection 6037(c) of this titleSection repealed upon transmittal of determination by President under that democratically elected government in Cuba is in power, see .

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 1463 of this titlePub. L. 103–236, title III, § 315(a)108 Stat. 445, referred to in subsecs. (c) and (d), was repealed by , , .

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act which comprises this subchapter, and not as part of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

Pub. L. 105–277, § 1324(1)1998—Subsec. (a). , (2), substituted “Broadcasting Board of Governors” for “United States Information Agency” and “Board” for “Agency”.

Pub. L. 105–277, § 1324(3)Subsecs. (d), (f). , substituted “the Broadcasting Board of Governors” for “the Director of the United States Information Agency”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

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

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–277section 1301 of Pub. L. 105–277section 6531 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .