Voice of America

VOA was organized in 1942 under the Office of War Information with news programs aimed at German-occupied Europe and North Africa. VOA began broadcasting on February 24, 1942. Transmitters used by VOA came from shortwave transmitters used by the Columbia Broadcasting System and National Broadcasting Company. Voice of America began to transmit radio broadcasts into the Soviet Union on February 17, 1947.

During the Cold War, VOA was placed under the U.S. Information Agency. VOA was involved in white propaganda broadcasts. In the 1980s, VOA also added a television service, as well as special regional programs to Cuba, Radio Marti and TV Marti.

Laws governing VOA-IBB's activities

• The law explicitly forbidding VOA from carrying out any domestic broadcasting activities is partly derived from the US's lack of a state funded domestic radio or television broadcaster. The law was also designed to satisfy the needs of the US's commercial radio broadcasting companies.
• The US PBS (TV) and NPR (Radio) networks in the US function with some public funding, but without the oversight that state broadcasting corporations typically have. Both networks supply material for VOA Worldnet TV or VOA's Radio's flagship English Service.

IBB Broadcasting Activities, Non-VOA