OREANDA-NEWS The Federal Communications Commission has passed new requirements requiring broadcasters to report when foreign governments or their representatives lease their airtime to broadcast their own material.

The regulator notes that although US legislation prohibits foreign governments and their representatives from having a license to broadcast directly, despite this, foreign government agencies are increasingly buying time on American broadcasting stations.

It is noted that broadcasters will now have to disclose sponsorship received for broadcasting material from "any entity or individual that is a foreign government, foreign political party, agent acting on their behalf, or foreign media in the United States".

The American regulator also notes that this requirement promotes transparency by ensuring that the audience is aware of when a foreign government or its representatives use the air to convince the American public of something.