Broadcasting Board of Governors 

United States of America 

E-Government Act Report 

October 2006
2006 E-GOVERNMENT ACT REPORT 

BROADCASTNG BOARD OF GOVERNORS 

Summary: This Report addresses the status of the Broadcasting Board of Governors’ 

compliance with Sections 202(g), 207(f)(2), 207(d), 207(e), and 207(g) of the EGovernment Act of 2002, in accordance with FY 2006 E-Government Act Reporting 

Instructions issued by OMB on August 23, 2006. 

Introduction: The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG or Agency) is the federal 

agency responsible for all U.S. government and government sponsored non-military 

international broadcasting, in accordance with Public Law 105-277. The Agency 

executes its international broadcasting missions via radio, television, and Internet news 

and information programs that by law are intended for foreign audiences only and may 

not be distributed within the United States. Within the context of the E-Government Act 

and the many related initiatives now in progress within the federal government, the 

Agency’s broadcasting mission does not involve any E-Government initiatives related to 

information services to and exchanges with U. S. citizens, businesses, or other 

government agencies. However, the Agency is participating in several E-government 

initiatives to improve the internal efficiency and effectiveness of its operations, including 

information services to employees. 

Overview of the Agency’s Implementation of the Act. 

Efficiency and Effectiveness of Mission Operations. The BBG has recently 

completed a major long-term renovation project to automate and digitize its radio 

program production capabilities. In the past, audio programs were produced using 

several isolated and stand-alone analog-based magnetic tape equipment systems. These 

functions have been fully integrated under a common IT/computer network-based system 

that provides and retains superior audio quality throughout the program production and 

broadcast chain, and with reduction or elimination of many labor-intensive manual 

operations associated with analog systems. Television production capabilities are now 

being upgraded as well to more fully incorporate many of the same digital benefits into 

video production and broadcasting. The Internet is used increasingly to distribute audio, 

video and other program data worldwide. Agency Internet experts cooperated with other 

agencies in sharing information about Internet jamming and blocking by hostile entities, 

and have testified before Congress regarding techniques to circumvent Internet blocking 

and in support of Congressional initiatives to maintain open and free access to Internet 

services worldwide. 

E-Payroll. The BBG has made significant progress in implementing a new 

payroll system to support the Administration’s E-Government mandate. The BBG has 

selected the Department of Defense Civilian Payroll System (DCPS) and is working with 

the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Management and Budget, and the 

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Department of State to implement the new system in FY 2007 under a cross-servicing 

agreement with DCPS. 

Employee Express. As of October 2004, the Agency has used Employee Express 

to automate employee services related to earnings and leave statements, and to changes in 

tax withholding status. MyPay will replace Employee Express when the transition to the 

DCPS is completed. 

Human Resources Management Line of Business (HR LoB). The Agency 

receives HR services via a cross servicing agreement with the Department of Defense 

Civilian Personnel Management Service (CPMS). To improve the efficiency of internal 

HR operations, the Agency is investigating various options for integrating HR with other 

administrative services when the current servicing agreement expires in FY2007. 

MyBiz. The agency utilizes the MyBiz service offered by the Department of 

Defense Civilian Personnel Management Service (CPMS) to automate employee access 

to their personnel records and benefit choices. 

Recruitment One-Stop. The IBB uses USA Staffing and the USAJobs Federal 

Employment Information System to recruit and fill vacancies, many of which require 

unique and hard to find skills. 

E-Training. The Agency utilizes the USALearn.gov web site training capabilities 

on an as-needed basis for various training needs of the Agency. 

E-Travel. The Agency has joined with the Department of State and the U.S. 

Agency for International Development in their selection of CW Government Travel 

(CW) as its official travel service center. In FY2006, CW implemented its E2 Solutions 

application to support online travel booking, authorization, and vouchering services for 

the Agency. 

Financial Management Line of Business (FM LoB). The Agency has initiated 

migration of its financial services from the Department of State (DoS) to the Department 

of Interior (DoI) National Business Center (NBC) shared service center. This migration 

will be completed in FY2008. 

FedBizOpps. The Agency utilizes the FedBizOpps service to post business 

opportunity announcements. 

GovSales.Gov. The Agency utilizes the GovSales.gov service to locate and 

dispose of federal assets. 

E-Records. The Agency is participating and coordinating with the activities of 

the National Archives and Records Administration as it develops standards for electronic 

record keeping. The Agency has reviewed and updated its e-mail retention policies, and 

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in a related area is reviewing its Systems of Records documentation for publication in the 

Federal Register. 

CIO Council. The Agency CIO and other information management staff 

participate in the Small Agency CIO Council program to foster sharing and exchange of 

best practices in information management and technology among federal agencies. 

Summary of an Internal BBG E-Government Initiative. The Voice of America, one 

of several BBG broadcasting entities, operates one of the largest radio/TV broadcasting 

facilities in the world, including over 50 radio and 4 television studios. These studios are 

a major U.S. asset in explaining and promoting American values and institutions 

worldwide, directly to foreign publics. The main VOA studio complex, located in the 

heart of Washington, D.C., near the Capitol Building, attracts many U. S. citizens and 

tourists who seek information regarding the role of U.S. government sponsored 

international broadcasting and how it is accomplished. As a public information service, 

the Voice of America conducts daily tours of its facilities. 

In 2005, the Broadcasting Board of Governors launched an online free reservation system 

for public tours and events at the Voice of America. Previously, reservation 

confirmations required the presence of a staff member to respond to telephone or 

e-mail requests, which was feasible only during core Washington D.C. work hours. 

Response times varied from one to 24 hours approximately, and public inquiries were at 

times frustrated by the mismatch of time zones across the country. The public now has 

the option of checking tour and public event space availability online at any hour, and 

without the cost of a long-distance phone call. The public can immediately make a 

reservation for a desired date and time, rather than wait for a return call or e-mail to 

confirm arrangements. 

The agency elected to develop and maintain the necessary software internally, after 

comparing the benefits and costs of a commercial ticketing service. By using an in-house 

system, the Agency not only avoids the continuing cost of a commercial contract, but also 

and equally important, the public saves a typical $3 service fee for each commercial 

transaction. The convenience and accessibility of the new online system has proven 

popular with the American public. During the last half of FY2006, approximately 16 

percent of all tour attendees made their reservations through the on-line tour system. As 

promotional and partnering efforts expand, awareness and use of the tour reservation 

system is expected to increase. 

The online VOA tour registration system fosters several efficiencies and benefits. 

- Reduction of staff time to respond to phone calls and e-mails 

- Rapid and automated preparation of event lists for tour and event staff as well as 

the necessary participant lists for security. 

- Marketing feedback through automated reports and voluntary questionnaires 

indicating how visitors learned about the tour and where they are from. (No 

confidential or personal information is retained on file.) 

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While our online reservation system has proven to be a popular convenience for many 

U.S. visitors, the Agency retains a dedicated tour reservation telephone number for those 

without access to the Internet and for those with disabilities who may require special 

assistance during the tour. 

Agency Information Available to the Public. 

Process for determining which information the Agency intends to make available 

to the American public over the Internet or by other means. Legal restrictions dictate the 

type of information that the Agency can make available to U. S. individuals and 

institutions. The Agency may not directly broadcast or otherwise distribute within the 

United States its actual radio, television or Internet news and information programs, or 

use its funds and programs to influence American public opinion. [Smith-Mundt Act of 

1948; Foreign Relations Act of 1972.] In accordance with these information distribution 

restrictions, federal courts have supported the Agency’s denial of requests for program 

transcripts and information content of its broadcast programs under the Freedom of 

Information Act. The Agency makes available to the public only information about its 

policies, programmatic plans, and organization and operations, plus information as 

necessary to conduct routine business information exchanges with U.S. individuals and 

businesses related to the acquisition of staffing and contractual goods and services. 

The BBG and its broadcasting entities, such as the Voice of America, operate numerous 

web sites. Only two of these are federal sites intended to provide information services to 

the U.S. public, i.e., the web site of the BBG headquarters office [www.bbg.gov] and the 

web site of the International Broadcasting Bureau [www.ibb.gov], which provides 

administrative and/or technical support services to many BBG programming entities. 

 All other BBG web sites are operated by broadcasting entities and include news and 

information programs intended solely for distribution to foreign publics, primarily in their 

native language. While these entity sites may be accessible to the U.S. public due to the 

ubiquitous nature of the Internet, these sites are neither intended for nor designed for 

communication with or service to the American public. 

Priorities and Schedules for making Information Available to the U. S. Public . 

At this time the BBG has posted all of its intended information on the BBG or IBB web 

sites, as follows, and in accordance with priority categories defined by OMB. 

Priority 1. (Information required by law, regulation or Presidential directive.) In 

accordance with Section 207(f) of the E-Government Act, or other regulations, the BBG 

and the IBB web sites include information and links for the following items: 

 --Descriptions of the mission and statutory authority of the agency 

--Listings of agency information and records that may be available under the 

Freedom of Information Act 

 --Strategic plan of the agency 

--Organizational structure and staff information, including profiles of the 

members of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors 

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 --Privacy statement 

 --Agency contact information 

--Subject/map index 

Priority 2. (Information or services to the public that are not required by law but 

are directly tied to the agency mission.) As noted, the agency is legally barred 

from providing its broadcasting products to the U.S. public. 

Priority 3. (Frequently requested information to improve business processes or 

customer service to the public.) 

--BBG annual reports 

--BBG annual performance and accountability reports 

 --Personnel hiring information and vacancy announcements 

 --FAIR Act information 

Priority 4. (Other information.) 

--Public relations and press releases regarding BBG/IBB plans or events 

--Information services for employees and contractors (e.g., health information, 

Office of Civil Rights information) 

--International crime alerts 

 

Search Function. The BBG and IBB web sites are simple in design and easy to 

navigate via subject indexes on the sites. The Agency plans to implement a search 

capability for these sites during FY2007. 

Coordination of Dissemination of Information with FOIA

Requests for information not found on the Agency’s public web sites are processed in 

accordance with The BBG Guidelines on Requesting Records under the Freedom of 

Information Act. Information about the Agency’s FOIA guidelines and FOIA 

Improvement Plan are found at http://www.bbg.gov/foia/foia_rr.cfm . As discussed 

earlier, legal restrictions dictate the type of information that the Agency can make 

available to U. S. individuals and institutions [Smith-Mundt Act of 1948; Foreign 

Relations Act of 1972]. 

Categorizing of Information. The Agency’s records are categorized per its 

Request for Records Disposition Authority approved by the Archivist of the United States 

on October 24, 1991. The Agency is reviewing its records management policies and 

schedules in accordance with NARA guidance and plans to revise these policies and 

schedules as necessary. 

Public Access to Electronic Information. The Agency makes available to the 

public information about its policies, programmatic plans, and organization and 

operations, plus information as necessary to conduct routine business information 

exchanges with U.S. individuals and businesses related to the acquisition of staffing and 

contractual goods and services on its BBG and IBB web sites. A subject index provides 

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ample navigation guidance to access the information content of the sites, and the Agency 

plans to implement a search capability for these sites during FY2007. 

Access to Federally Funded Research and Development. The Agency does not 

fund research and development activities. 

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