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The Honorable Ajit Pai1 Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street S .W . 
Washington1 D.C. 20554 
Dear Chairman Pai1 
This is my fifth letter to you regarding the transmission of RT (Russia Today) by American 
broadcasters. l have not received responses to my last two letters1 and l'm concerned that your 
responses to my previous letters have not been helpful. l continue to believe there is still an 
opportunity to take proactive steps at the FCC to safeguard our democratic systems from 
subversion by hostile foreign entities1 and l urge you to do so. 
The FCC requires all broadcaster licensees and cable operators to make their station public 
inspection file available to the public. lt also requires television stations to place most of the 
content of their public files online1 including political filing requirements containing the time1 date1 
and price paid for political campaign advertisements. This is a critical component of ensuring 
transparency for consumers of broadcast media1 and l commend the Commission for its recent vote 
to modernize this system for the 2I5 t century. lt is important that we keep our systems up-to-date1 
such as eliminating paper contract filings . Just as important as digitizing is ensuring the FCC 
meets all modern needs for media monitoring. 
As you are aware1 Russian efforts to utilize U.S. media outlets1 including broadcast airwaves1 to 
undermine American society and our democratic functions has been widely acknowledged by U.S. 
authorities1 including the U.S. lntelligence Community1 which has called RT1 the Russian state 
news agency1 11the Kremlin's principal international propaganda outlet11j the Department of Justice1 
which required RT to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act 
If ARA)i and the Congressional Radio & Television Correspondents' Galleries1 which revoked 
RT's news credentials in Congress on November 291 2017. The transmission of Russian 
government content over our airwaves is part of a clear and concerted effort to manipulate the 
American people and l believe this deserves an American response. 
l've given a great deal of thought to this situation and l propose the following: the FCC should 
require any foreign agents registered under FARA who seek time on American airwaves-radio1 
broadcast1 and cable- to file publicly with the FCC under the same requirements used for political 
files by candidates and issue advertisers1 and concurrently send a notice to the Department of 
98
Justice and the State Department. The filings should include: a description of when advertising 
actua([y aired1 advertising preempted1 and the timing of any make-goods of preempted time1 as well 
as credits or rebates provided the advertiser. lt is a commonsense solution that makes use of 
systems already in place and is narrowly tailored to the specific threats posed by foreign agents 
without unduly burdening broadcasters or cable providers. 
We are once again in a critical election year and l remain deeply troubled that we have yet to 
address widely acknowledged efforts to manipulate the last election or take steps to ensure our 
next elections are protected. Our society is more fractured than it has been in decades1 and the 
U .5. lnteHigence Community has confirmed that the content we've seen from RT is designed to 
exacerbate those divisions. Just this week1 ClA Director Mike Pompeo said that he has '1every 
expectation" that Russia wi([ try to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections1• 
The American people and our oversight institutions need to know where the content of what they 
see and hear is coming from1 enabling our citizenry to be empowered to think critica([y and prevent 
any further damage to the fabric of our democracy. l'm committed to finding solutions to what l 
believe is a serious issue as soon as possible and l hope you and your agency wi([ work with me in 
this worthy cause to protect the integrity of our public airwaves. Our democracy deserves no less. 
l look forward to your timely response. 
---.Btinina G. Eshoo 
Member of Congress 
CC: 
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn 
Commissioner Michael O 'Rielly 
Commissioner Brendan Carr 
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel 
' Cristiano Lima, flPompeo: 'l have every expectation' Russia will meddle in 2018 midterms/ Politico, Jan. 301 2018. 
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December 261 2017 
The Honorable Ajit Pai1 Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12ch Street1 S.W. 
Washington1 D.C. 20554 
Dear Chairman Pai1 
This is the fourth time l am writing to you this year asking that you take seriously the reports 
that Russian outlets have been and continue to broadcast propaganda over American 
airwaves. 1t has been over a month since l last wrote to you about this matter. 
ln your second response to me dated October 231 20171 you said that the FCC would launch 
an inquiry if you were provided with credible allegations of violations of the statute. H ere is 
what we know. We know that RT is a now-registered federal agent of the Russian 
government. We know that the Russian government has a well-established record1 of using 
sophisticated methods to meddle in the affairs of other countriesl. and undermines the 
integrity of democracies world-wide. And we know that Russian media at large was 
distributing incendiary advertising and videos as part of misinformation campaign directed at 
the parties in the 2016 election.3 
We know that our intelligence community issued a report (Jan. 71 2017) stating it believes with 
11highest confidence" that Russia did in fact deliberately and systematically infiltrate our 
1 11Examining Russian Disinformation/' NPR /Nov. 191 2017) 
htt~/fwww.nPLlllSf_1m]m/.i9/sfisis34J;rlexamining-russian-disinformation. 
2 See1 e.g.1 11The impact of Russian interference on Germany's 2017 election/' Brooking Institution (June 281 2017) 
ht tps://www.bro2ki_ngs.edu/testimonieslthedmpact-of-russian-interference-on=Sermanys-201z-clections/l i 
11Here's the firs t evidence Russia used Twitter to influence Brexit/ 1 Wired /Nov. 101 2017) 
ht.tp_:f/www.wired.co.u!J__artide/brexi t-russia-influence-twitter-bots-internet-research-aglm.!q'j Spain sess 
Russian interference in Catalonia separatist vote/' Reuters /Nov. 131 2017) hr..t_p,i;//www.reuters .com/..M.ticle/us­
s_pain-poli tics-catalonia-russia/sP.filn-sees-russian-interference-in-catalonia-separatist-vote­
idUSKB~1DD20}'.j 11NSA confirms it: Russia hacked French election 1infrastructure/11 Wired /May 91 2017) 
hil~iww.w.wired.comho17Mnsa-director-conf~ussia-hacked-f~h.:clection- infrastructure/. 
3 See "Kremlin trolls burned across the Internet as Washington debated options/' Washington Post {D ec. 251 
2017) h_tt~/www.wasbingtQDpost.com/_wruldfnational-security/kreml in-trolls-burned-across-tbe-internet=.1.2:_ 
~gton-debated-optionsfuu7Lu/..1,_~zh9dc9~0-621feo_s_8_8J40 story.html? tid = pm world popj 
see also 1' H ouse Intelligence Committee Releases Incendiary Social Media Ads/ 1 New York Times /Nov. 11 
2017) https.://~ytimes.com/2017/JJ/sJJffill_po liti cs/russ~--=-faceboclli..hnnl. 
1140
communications networks to drive wedges into ex isting social and political divisions1 and 
manipulate our election4j that the Department of Justice believed that intelligence to that end 
was credible enough to request RT to register as a foreign agent which Russia resisted for 
months from the highest levels until it finally acquiesced in November5j and that RT was 
leasing time over American broadcast airwaves in the months leading up to1 during1 and after 
the election.6 
The Federal Communications Commission is responsible for protecting those very airwaves1 
has a duty to ensure that they are used to serve the public trust1 and the broadcasters who 
lease them must act in accordance with the Commission's rules.7 l have thrice requested that 
you investigate whether that public trust has been violated by a foreign adversary through 
those broadcasters8j and so far you have declined to do so9• 
To that end1 l believe this remains your duty and that of the FCC to act immediately to 
address these issues1 and l request that you respond to the following: 
(1) ln your July 241 2017 letter1 you noted that under the Commission's sponsorship 
identification and public file ownership disclosure requirements1 ifRT compensated a 
broadcast radio or television station for transmitting Russian programming1 the 
sponsorship identification rules would apply and disclosure would be required. Was 
RT indeed doing so1 and were those broadcast stations in compliance at that t ime? 
Are they in compliance now? Have you directed agency resources to thoroughly 
investigate their compliance? 
(2) For what percentage of airtime were the broadcasters transmitting broadcasts 
produced or funded by1 or produced or funded by others at the direction of1 RT1 and 
were they in compliance with the foreign media ownership rules? 
4 11Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections/' O ffice of the Director of N ational 
l ntelligence IJ an. 6. 2017) htt~/www.dni.gov/fi les/docuimntsllCA 2017 _ QL.pd.f i s ee also 11D eclass ified report 
says Putin 'ordered' effort to undermine faith in U.S. election and help T rump, Washington Post {Jan. 61 2017) 
https:Uy.;ww.wasbingtonpost.com/wo.rldLnational-secu.rityLintelligence-chiefs-e2.<pected-in-new-york-to-brief­
tr.Ymp-on-russ ian-backins/-1.Slli/JJJ/sm/sf591416-d41a-11e6-9cbo-54ahll_3~51e8 story.html. 
5 11DOJ told RT to register as a foreign agent partly because of alleged 2016 election interference/' Politico {Dec. 
201 2017) https :/~poli tico.com/M.m._ybm:JinbJ/Jfil_s ia-toda_Y:.ius tice-depar~f_orcign:.agfillk_e[~ 
interference-312211. 
611Russia1s RT: The Network Implicated in US Election Meddling/' N ew York T imes {Jan. 7. 2017) 
h.tt_ps://www.nY-times.comho1i/01/o7LwfilLd/mpe/russias-rt-the-network-implicated-in-us-election­
meddl ing.btml? r= o. 
7 11The Public Interest Standard in Television Broadcasting/' Benton 
htt12£/Lwww.benton.orgLinitiativesfuhlig~Lcharting tbe~casting f..Y1.YLeLsec2. 
8 - - - - h 11 Eshoo Leads Effort for Transparency of Russian State-Sponsored T elevis ion11 {M ay gt / 2017) 
http__,2;//eshoo.bouse.SQYLissuesLtelecommunications/eshoo- leads-efffilt:.for-trans~y-of.-russian-s tate­
s ponsored-television/j 11Esboo1 Pallone1 Doyle to FCC: Russia May be Using our Country1s A irwaves to 
Undermine D emocracy/' {Sept. 18th, 2017) h.tt_ps:U~shoo.house.gov/issues/telecommunicati ons/eshoo-JMljon_e.: 
lli!y~fcc-russia-may-be-using-our-countrys-airwaves-to-undermine-democracyh 11Eshoo Calls for FCC 
Chairman to investigate RT & Sputnik11 {Nov. 16th 2017) 
https:/Lesh_oo.house.gov/issues/tg,jecommunications/~oo-cA! ls-f.QL:fcc-chairman-to-inves tigate-rt-spu tni k/ 
9 Letter from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo1 dated O ctober 23'd1 2017. 
(J) RT is now registered as a foreign agent pursuant to the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act. What ob[igations and oversight authority does the FCC have with 
regard to broadcasters who are leasing U .5. airwaves to foreign agents that are 
registered with the Department of Justice under FARA? Are RT and any associated 
broadcasters in compliance? 
(4) The DOJ FARA Unit seeks voluntary compliance with the statute1 and the DOJ 
can bring criminal penalties for violation of the FARA. The FCC can revoke 
broadcast licenses for criminal activity. lf the DOJ were to bring criminal penalties 
against a foreign entity that was leasing time from an American broadcaster1 what 
measure could the FCC take to prevent continued broadcast of that illegal foreign 
content if the broadcaster did not immediately remove that content? Will you direct 
the FCC to open an investigation1 and personally to see to its prompt conclusion1 in 
the event of any further DOJ action? 
Is) Beyond those obligations1 what proactive steps will your agency take to monitor 
broadcast airwaves to ensure that broadcasters leasing to other foreign stations like 
RT with ties to foreign principals1 registered or not1 are complying with the 
sponsorship identification rules? Will you only act if a complaint is brought? Can the 
FCC act regardless of whether or not a complaint is brought1 and be more proactive 
when it comes to foreign entities leasing American airwaves? 
We are entering an election year. These issues have been before the FCC for months1 
without any action. To wait any longer to assess and address threats to the integrity of our 
democratic institutions is unacceptable. 
l believe every American cares about the prospect of any foreign manipulation of our 
elections. lt is an affront to our most fundamental principles and institutions. l look forward 
to your timely and detailed response to my inquiry1 and to the FCC taking appropriate action 
in the near future. 
Sincerely1 Qra-G. ~~~-
Anna G . Eshoo 
Member of Congress 
cc: 
Commissioner Brendan Carr 
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn 
Commissioner Mike 0 1Rielly 
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel 
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November 151 2017 
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The HonorableAjit Pai1 Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 nth Street1 S .W. 
Washington1 D.C. 20554 
Dear Chairman Pai1 
l have twice written to you this year asking you to take seriously reports that Russian 
outlets have been and continue to broadcast propaganda over U .S . airwaves1 and to 
take steps at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address this 
matter. Your responses thus far have dismissed these concerns and failed to answer 
my questions satisfactorily. That's why l'm writing to you once again to urge you to 
(a) launch a long-overdue FCC investigation into the licensees that have facilitated 
the use of American airwaves to broadcast information by foreign agents without 
proper disclosure1 (b) to apply any necessary enforcement actions to the fullest ex tent 
of your authority under the law1 and (c) to evaluate whether current FCC rules merit 
an update to avoid future undermining of our communications systems by foreign 
agents . 
The broadcast airwaves are a public trust that carry special obligations to the public 
and which the FCC oversees. As l noted in my letters on May 3rd and September 18th1 
it is imperative that the integrity of these communications systems are preserved. lt 
is therefore incumbent upon your agency to investigate an ongoing matter of clear and 
widespread concern that those airwaves may have been compromised by foreign 
state-based actors intent on interfering in our democratic processes1 and answer 
questions including but not limited to the following: 
(1) ln your July 241 2017 letter1 you noted that under the Commission's 
sponsorship identification and public file ownership disclosure requirements1 if 
RT or Sputnik compensated a broadcast radio or television station for 
transmitting RT or Sputnik programming1 the sponsorship identification rules 
would apply and disclosure would be required. However1 you did not note 
whether or not there was such compensation and if there was proper disclosure 
of any such identification. Were RT and Sputnik indeed doing so and were the 
broadcast s tations in compliance with those disclosure rules at the time? 
~·· 
978
(2) For what percentage of airtime were the broadcasters transmitting broadcasts 
from RT and Sputnik1 respectively? 
(3) 1f the broadcasters were not in compliance under the FCC1s foreign state 
sponsorship rules1 what steps is the Commission taking to address those 
transgressions1 including but not limited to the revocation of broadcast 
reauthorization of the U.S. stations that you describe in sub (4) of your 
October 131 1017 response? 
(4) 1t is increasingly clear that the ability of RT and Sputnik to broadcast over 
public airwaves without disclosing the true sponsor of this programming had 
harmful effects on the public interest. Either the broadcaster licensee was in 
violation of FCC rules and that violation was over[ooked1 or there are gaps in 
the rules that have allowed this foreign intervention to occur. 1n either case1 it 
seems the Commission1s foreign ownership rules may deserve a reevaluation. 
Will the Commission commit to doing so? 
(5) What obligations and oversight authority does the FCC have with regard to 
oversight of broadcasters who are [easing U.S. airwaves to foreign agents that 
are registered with1 or should have registered with1 the Department of Justice 
under the Foreign Agents Registration Act? 
American consumers have a right to know where their information is coming from1 and 
whether the public interest is being compromised over the airwaves designated to 
serve them. 1t is the responsibility of the Commission to protect the public interest 
first1 and 1 hope you will exercise your diligence by looking into these matters to 
prevent further subversion from taking place. 
Sincerely1 
cc: The Honorable Mignon C[yburn1 Commissioner1 Federal Communications 
Commission 
The Honorable Michael 0 1Rielly1 Commissioner1 Feder a[ Communications 
Commission 
The Honorable Brendan Carr~ Commissioner1 Federal Communications 
Commission 
The Honorable Jessica Rosenworce[1 Commissioner1 Federal Communications 
Commission