Bill Overview
Title: Identifying Propaganda on Our Airwaves Act
Description: This bill requires radio station licensees to obtain information from additional sources designated by the Federal Communications Commission when verifying (for purposes of announcing) if a foreign governmental entity paid for or furnished radio programming. The bill also specifies when licensees must obtain information and sets out related recordkeeping requirements.
Sponsors: Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18]
Target Audience
Population: People who listen to radio programming worldwide
Estimated Size: 223000000
- The bill impacts radio station licensees, who are responsible for verifying the source of their programming.
- Listeners of radio stations can be considered indirectly impacted, as they will receive more accurate information about the sources of programming, potentially affecting their understanding and trust of the media they consume.
- Foreign governmental entities may be affected as their ability to disseminate programming through these channels will be more closely monitored.
Reasoning
- Radio station licensees are directly impacted as they need to comply with new verification and recordkeeping standards, which can involve administrative costs and efforts.
- Listeners might experience an indirect impact on their wellbeing based on trust and perception changes regarding content sources. This is dependent on how much they rely on radio content for information.
- Foreign governmental entities affected depend on the nature of their previous interactions with radio stations. The impact is indirect on actual listenership.
- Variety among listeners means some will notice changes more than others; therefore, self-reported wellbeing might not fluctuate significantly unless they are very engaged with foreign content.
- The policy itself is primarily a regulatory one, targeting transparency; hence, impacts on wellbeing would likely be mediated through changes in perceived information reliability and trust.
Simulated Interviews
Radio Station Manager (New York City, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional verification steps are cumbersome but necessary.
- I believe this will help protect our audience from unintended foreign influence.
- There might be a slight increase in our operational costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Radio Listener (Chicago, IL)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this helps clarify where my information is coming from.
- Foreign influence in media always concerns me, so this is somewhat reassuring.
- I might not notice any immediate difference, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Retired (Rural Texas)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't usually think about who’s behind the programs I listen to.
- If it means more paperwork for stations, I don't see the point.
- Radio is a connection for me, so I hope it stays trustworthy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Activist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this is a step towards more transparent media.
- It's critical to know where information is coming from.
- I hope more Americans pay attention to these details.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Radio Host (Seattle, WA)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I find it critical that my listeners know where content originates.
- This policy might complicate sourcing guests and content.
- I'd be willing to take that cost if it benefits transparency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
College Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an important legislative goal for future media integrity.
- As a student, understanding these influences is crucial in my field.
- I hope more layers of media integrity can be added.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Radio Technician (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's another layer of compliance but doable for most stations.
- The potential for increasing operational workload is a concern.
- We'll manage as long as the guidelines are clear.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Federal Employee (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with broader efforts for communication integrity.
- It’s necessary to ensure compliance without hampering operations.
- This indicates progressive momentum towards transparency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Communications Consultant (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It will challenge some stations to meet these standards.
- But, it's essentially crucial for public trust in media.
- There may need to be additional clarity for small stations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Radio Advertiser (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that yields clearer information sources could benefit audience trust.
- It may also affect our advertising strategies if listeners change their habits.
- Transparency is key for sustained advertising success.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $72000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $44000000, High: $74000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $48000000, High: $78000000)
Year 10: $64000000 (Low: $52000000, High: $84000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy primarily involves radio stations and could set a precedent for other media types in future legislation.
- Compliance demands might vary significantly between large and small radio stations, potentially affecting the structure of media operations.