Iran Jams VOA’s Satellite Broadcasts

Posted October 5th, 2012 at 9:25 am (UTC-5)
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The government appointed board that oversees Voice of America and other U.S.-sponsored broadcasts has responded with outrage to the latest incidence of satellite jamming of international Persian-language broadcasts by the Iranian government, calling it “a deplorable violation of well-established international agreements.”

A statement this week by the Broadcasting Board of Governors says the jamming has disrupted broadcasts by VOA's Persian News Network, Radio Farda, and Radio Free Europe's Persian-language service. The BBC's Persian-language programming has also been affected.

The statement says that the jamming coincided with reports of street demonstrations and arrests that took place this week as Iranians reacted to the collapse of the rial.

The practice of deliberate interference with broadcast signals, known as “jamming,” is prohibited under rules of the International Telecommunications Union.

Iranian state media has not commented on the jamming.