"And it attributed that failure to a flawed structure and strong internal dissention," Engel said.

James Glassman, a former BBG Chairman, said the BBG is not defunct, but alive and well and serving an audience of more than 200 million people worldwide each week. But Glassman called for ending the journalistic agency's independent status and putting it under the U.S. State Department.

"It should be made clear to the various broadcasting services that they are in the public sector and are part of the U.S. foreign policy team. This does not simply mean performing in a manner consistent with the broad foreign policy objectives of the United States as the law states, but instead following actual strategic directives," Glassman said.

Glassman argued this would remove what he called "confusion" about the BBG's mission. The Voice of America is required by law to provide accurate, objective and comprehensive news, and to present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively.

Among the witnesses at the hearing were two other former BBG governors who differed on the future management structure. All of them agreed that it is difficult for a part-time board to oversee all the broadcasters.

But Jeff Hirschberg, a former BBG Governor, strongly disagreed with Glassman that the Voice of America and other broadcasters should be put under the State Department.

"The most important thing that U.S. international broadcasting has in its favor around the world is its credibility," Hirschberg said.