Definite Article

[azkad]

Dear Moderators,

Could you explain the usage of "the" before ABBREVIATIONs and ACRONYMs;
I sometimes come across, in newpapers and mags, some abbreviations preceded by "the" some without "the". I do not understand this, plz, explain.

[Mister Micawber]

.
Offhand, I would suggest that the article is used before initialisms (capital letters which are not pronounced as words) when it is used before the full form:

the United Kingdom; the UK
the British Broadcasting System; the BBC

But not when they form a pronounced word (an acronym proper):

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration; NASA
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization; NATO

There may well be other guidelines, however.
.

[azkad]

Thank you for your help.