Purpose and scope.

§ 173.1 Purpose and scope. This part contains the rules that the Department follows for responding to requests for the release within the United States of public diplomacy program material generated pursuant to the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, as amended (22 U.S.C. 1431, et seq.; “the Smith-Mundt Act”). It is the Department's policy to make its program material available on its public Web site or via third-party platforms whenever doing so is consistent with the Department's mission and all statutory authorities, prohibitions, contractual obligations, principles, and standards. Requests for program material that is not available on the Department's public Web site or via third-party platforms must be submitted under the Freedom of Information Act (the “FOIA”) pursuant to the FOIA provisions of 22 CFR part 171, subpart B.