HR 4886 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To permanently authorize Radio Free Asia, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 18, 2010CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. ROYCE (for himself, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, and Mr. SCHIFF) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To permanently authorize Radio Free Asia, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Radio Free Asia (in this Act referred to as ‘RFA’)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) was authorized under section 309 of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6208);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) was incorporated as a private, nonprofit corporation in March 1996 in the hope that its operations would soon be obviated by the global advancement of democracy; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) is headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Ankara, Taipei, and Dharamsala.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) RFA acts as a ‘surrogate’ news service, in which its broadcasts serve as substitutes for indigenous free media in regions lacking free media outlets.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The mission of RFA is ‘to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press’ in order to enable informed decisionmaking by the people within Asia.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The ‘surrogate’ broadcasting model was used effectively in Eastern Europe, helping to inspire democrats and create space for civil society.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) RFA provides daily broadcasts of news, commentary, analysis, and cultural programming to Asian countries in several of the region’s languages.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The governments of the countries targeted for these broadcasts have actively sought to block RFA’s transmissions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) RFA has provided continuous online news to its Asian audiences since 2004, although some countries--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) routinely and aggressively attempt to block RFA’s website;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) monitor access to RFA’s website; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) discourage online users by making it illegal to access RFA’s website.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) Despite these attempts, RFA has managed to reach its online audiences through proxies, cutting-edge software, and active republication and repostings by its audience.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) RFA also provides forums for local opinions and experiences through message boards, podcasts, web logs (blogs), cell phone-distributed newscasts, and new media, including Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and YouTube.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) Freedom House has documented that freedom of the press is in decline in nearly every region of the world, particularly in Asia, where none of the countries served by RFA have increased their freedom of the press during the past five years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) Independent media sources are nonexistent or severely restrained in their operations in these areas where the press often serves as a means to promote the government’s agenda.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) Congress currently provides grant funding for RFA’s operations on a fiscal year basis.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) RFA’s sunset provision has hampered its operations, such as hiring staff and negotiating cost effective lease and capital agreements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) public access to timely, uncensored, and accurate information is imperative for achieving government accountability, the protection of human rights, and the promotion of democratic values and institutions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Radio Free Asia provides a vital and unique voice to people in Asia;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in the 14 years since RFA was established, freedom of the press in Asia has come under intensified attack;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) some of the governments in Asia spend millions of dollars each year to jam RFA’s broadcasts, block its Internet sites, and illegally access RFA’s computer networks and user files;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) the United States should continue to support RFA and the other entities overseen by the Broadcasting Board of Governors for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Internet censorship circumvention; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) enhancement of their cyber security efforts; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) permanently authorizing funding for Radio Free Asia would--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) reflect the concern that media censorship and press restrictions in the countries served by RFA have increased since RFA was established;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) send a powerful signal of United States support for a free press in Asia and throughout the world; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) enhance the efficiency of RFA’s operations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION FOR RADIO FREE ASIA.

Section 309 of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6208) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘, and shall further specify that funds to carry out the activities of Radio Free Asia may not be available after September 30, 2010’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking subsection (f); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsection (f) and (g), respectively.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink