Three House Democrats are asking the Federal Communications Commission to investigate whether a Russian state-sponsored radio news outlet's broadcasts are Kremlin propaganda in violation of its broadcast license.
Reps. Anna Eshoo of California, Frank Pallone Jr. of New Jersey, and Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania sent a letter Monday to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai seeking a probe in the wake of a report by The New York Times Magazine alleging Sputnik radio was trying to influence the 2016 presidential election "by spreading false news reports attempting to undermine U.S. democracy."
"In Washington, D.C., listeners need only tune their radios to 105.5 FM to hear the Russian government's effort to influence U.S. policy," the lawmakers wrote. "Disturbingly, this means the Kremlin's propaganda messages are being broadcast over a license granted by the FCC."
Sputnik's radio show only started in the Washington, D.C., market in July 2017.
"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," the lawmakers wrote.
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