Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2002/12/11/02-31168/sunshine-act-meetings
Timestamp: 2017-11-23 07:59:04
Document Index: 54564399

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 507', '§\u2009507', '§\u2009507', '§\u2009507', '§\u2009507', '§\u2009507', '§\u2009507', '§\u2009507', '§\u2009507']

A Rule by the Broadcasting Board of Governors on 12/11/2002
76112-76114 (3 pages)
22 CFR 507
List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 507
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/02-31168 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/02-31168
This regulation establishes rules for implementing open meetings under the Sunshine Act for the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG or Agency).
Carol M. Booker, Legal Counsel, at (202) 401-3736.
Public Law 103-236, the United States Broadcasting Act of 1994, created the BBG within the United States Information Agency (USIA). By law, the bipartisan board consisted of nine members—eight members who were appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and the USIA Director.
On October 21, 1998, President Clinton signed Pub. L. 105-277, the Omnibus Consolidated Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1999. Contained as Division G of this legislation was the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, which reorganized the foreign affairs agencies of the U.S. Government. Under this reorganization, the Broadcasting Board of Governors became an independent Federal entity on October 1, 1999. Under the reorganization of the foreign affairs agencies, the responsibilities of the Board remained intact, and the membership of the Board remained the same, except that the USIA Director was replaced by the Secretary of State.
The BBG has responsibility for oversight of all United States sponsored, non-military broadcasting to foreign countries. The BBG oversees the operations of the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), which includes the worldwide broadcasting services of the Voice of America (VOA), WORLDNET, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), Engineering and Technical Operations. The BBG also oversees two grantee organizations, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia (RFA). The Board members also serve as the members of the Board of Directors of both RFE/RL and RFA.
The Board's authorities include, among others:
To make and supervise grants for broadcasting and related activities of RFE/RL and RFA;
In total, the BBG broadcasting entities transmit more than 2,000 hours of weekly programming in 61 languages to more than 100 million weekly listeners worldwide.
The Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b) is a Federal Law that requires meetings of Federal Agencies to remain public and in most cases the time, place and subject matter of the meeting should be announced prior to its occurrence.
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 605(b), the BBG certifies that the rules do not have a significant adverse economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This rule is not considered significant regulatory action within the meaning of section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, nor does this rule have Federalism implications warranting the preparation of a Federalism Assessment in accordance with Executive Order 12612.
Carol M. Booker,
Legal Counsel, Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Accordingly, for the reasons set out in the preamble,
Requirement for open meetings.
Grounds on which meetings may be closed.
Reconsideration of opening or closing a meeting.
Recording keeping of closed meetings.
Members shall not jointly conduct or dispose of agency business other than in accordance with this part. Except as provided in § 507.4 every portion of every meeting of the agency shall be open to public observation.
§ 507.6
(1) A majority of the membership of the Board votes to take such action. A separate vote of the Board members shall be taken with respect to each Board meeting, a portion or portions of which are proposed to be closed to the public pursuant to § 507.4, or with respect to any information which is proposed to be withheld under § 507.4. A single vote may be taken with respect to a series of meetings, a portion or portions of which are proposed to be closed to the public, or with respect to any information concerning such series of meetings, so long as each meeting in such series involves the same particular matters and is scheduled to be held not more than thirty days after the initial meeting in such series. The vote of each Board member participating in such vote shall be recorded and no proxies shall be allowed.
(2) Whenever any person whose interest may be directly affected by a portion of the meeting requests that the Board close such a portion to the public for any of the reasons referred to in § 507.4 (e), (f) or (g), the Board, upon request of any of its Board members, shall take a recorded vote, whether to close such portion of the meeting.
§ 507.7
§ 507.8
(b) The Board, after review by the Chairman, shall make promptly Start Printed Page 76114available to the public in a place easily accessible to the public, a complete transcript or electronic record of the discussion of any item on the agenda, or any item of testimony of any witness received at the Board meeting, except for such item or items of such discussion or testimony as the Board determines to contain information which may be withheld under § 507.4. Copies of such record, disclosing the identity of each speaker, shall be furnished to any person at the actual cost of duplication. The Board shall maintain a complete transcript or electronic copy of each meeting, or portion of a meeting, closed to the public, for a period of at least two years after such meeting, or until one year after the conclusion of any Board proceeding with respect to which the meeting or portion was held, whichever occurs later.
[FR Doc. 02-31168 Filed 12-10-02; 8:45 am]