US government 'to invest in World Service'

The US State Department will give the BBC World Service money to help promote freedom of speech, reports suggest.

According to The Guardian, an agreement for a six-figure sum will be signed later this month. The US investment will be used to teach people ways to get around the blocking of TV and internet services in countries where state censorship exists.

The paper quotes the World Service's controller of strategy and business Jim Egan as saying: "Governments who have an interest in denying people information - particularly at times of tension and upheaval - are keen to do this and it is a particular problem now."

Some of the money will also be invested in developing anti-jamming technology and software. The BBC claimed last month that its Persian TV service was being jammed from within Iran during the uprising in Egypt.

The US State Department reportedly believes that its prospective investment is justified because of the World Service's wide global reach.

650 jobs have been cut at the World Service and five foreign language services will be closed to meet a funding gap.

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