760September 18, 2017 
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The Honorable Ajit Pai, Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street, SW 
Washington, D.C. 20536 
Dear Chairman Pai, 
We're writing in response to recent troubling press repmis that a radio network funded by the 
Russian government may have used U.S. airwaves to influence the 2016 presidential election. 
We ask that you investigate these troubling repotis and apply all applicable laws and regulations 
to enforce the public interest standard for licensed stations that broadcast this network. 
An article published by the New York Times Magazine (9/13/17) titled "RT, Sputnik and 
Russia's New Theory of War" suggests that Sputnik, a radio network funded by the Russian 
government, was used as part of the Kremlin's effmi to influence the 2016 presidential election. 
In Washington, D.C., listeners can tune their radios to 105.5 FM to hear Sputnik and the Russian 
government's effort to spread misinformation to influence U.S. policy and undermine our 
elections. This means the Kremlin's propaganda is being broadcast over a license granted by the 
FCC and the Russian government may be using our country's own airwaves to undermine our 
democracy. 
The Communications Act of 1934 requires the FCC to take action to ensure broadcast licenses 
act in the public interest, convenience, and necessity. If Sputnik is in fact being used as a tool by 
the Russian government to undermine the United States and our free and fair electoral process, 
the station airing Sputnik is directly violating the public interest standard of the Communications 
Act. 
We've written to you previously regarding issues arising from the over-the-air television 
broadcast of Russia Today. Sputnik's alleged role in the Russian campaign to influence the 2016 
election raises the same concerns and violates the public interest by giving a foreign government 
a microphone to spread propaganda. The Commission must look into the allegations that Sputnik 
is being used by the Russian government to disseminate misinformation and influence our 
elections and be prepared to take action. We therefore request that you provide answers to the 
following questions: 
(1) Is the FCC currently investigating whether broadcast licensees are contravening the 
public interest by retransmitting radio programing funding by the Russian 
government in an effoti to influence U.S. polices and elections? 
(2) If not, will the FCC commit to undertaking such an investigation? 
PAINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 
(3) If the allegations in the above described repmts are true, will the FCC commit to 
enforcing the public interest standard on stations that broadcast Sputnik, in 
accordance with applicable law and regulations? 
( 4) If the FCC were to take action against a station being used to undermine our 
democracy, what specific steps could the FCC take? 
We thank you you for your attention to this critically impmtant issue and ask for your timely 
response. 
Sincerely, 
-~hoe-
----=-~~--------- ~~~~~~~~~~ 
Subcommittee on Communications & 
Technology 
Frank Pallone, Jr. 
Ranking Member 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
ichael F. Doyle 
Ranking Member 
Subcommittee on Communications & 
Technology