[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4454 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4454

    To authorize appropriations to expand and enhance United States 
 international broadcasting operations around the world, specifically 
 enhancing the depth and scope of programming throughout the People's 
                           Republic of China.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 15, 2000

  Mr. Porter (for himself and Mr. Bereuter) introduced the following 
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To authorize appropriations to expand and enhance United States 
 international broadcasting operations around the world, specifically 
 enhancing the depth and scope of programming throughout the People's 
                           Republic of China.

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

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) A fundamental prerequisite to political and economic 
        freedom is an informed citizenry. In many countries around the 
        world basic freedoms are denied, including access to 
        information. One of the best and most cost-effective ways to 
        help enhance the respect for human rights abroad is to 
        disseminate reliable information that serves to foster the 
        spirit of democracy in closed societies. By doing so, not only 
        is the United States interest served by helping to spread 
        democracy, but democratic activists are also empowered to 
        challenge the status quo.
            (2) Currently, United States international broadcasting 
        broadcasts in 61 languages around the world.
            (3) Research shows that for international broadcasting to 
        reach the greatest number of people, enhanced marketing must 
        take place. Marketing which will allow the potential audience 
        to find the programming on the appropriate frequency, channel, 
        or web site needs to be enhanced. Marketing efforts abroad for 
        placement on local affiliate networks need to be developed. The 
        base of international broadcasting audiences must continue to 
        be broadened to recruit new listeners, and, particularly, to 
        target the younger generation.
            (4) When crises arise around the world, such as the Kosova 
        crisis in 1999, United States international broadcasting has no 
        means to respond to such crises in a timely manner. Currently, 
        budget resources are shifted internally, pulling resources away 
        from others sources.
            (5) Both Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America, as a 
        surrogate for a free press in the People's Republic of China, 
        provide an invaluable source of uncensored information to the 
        Chinese people, including objective and authoritative news of 
        in-country and regional events, as well as accurate news about 
        the United States and its policies.
            (6) Radio Free Asia currently broadcasts 24-hours a day in 
        China, with 12 hours in Mandarin, 8 hours in Tibetan, 3 hours 
        in Cantonese and 1 hour in Uygur.
            (7) According to a 1990 census, 4.8 million Mongolians live 
        in China, and there is no service in their native language 
        available.
            (8) Radio Free Asia's ``call in listen'' programs reported 
        an average of over 27,200 calls per month, for the months in 
        the beginning of 2000. However, less than 2 percent of those 
        callers were able to reach Radio Free Asia and voice their 
        opinion.
            (9) Voice of America currently broadcasts 84 hours per week 
        in Mandarin, 28 hours per week in Tibetan and 14 hours per week 
        in Cantonese. Voice of America's Mandarin TV service includes 
        1-hour programming, five days a week.
            (10) Currently neither RFA nor VOA have a news bureau in 
        Taipei or Shanghai.
            (11) Signals of all United States international 
        broadcasting programs often have difficulty being received due 
        to widespread jamming practices of oppressive government 
        regimes. If stronger frequencies are used or if the 
        broadcastings can come from various angles, the reception will 
        be increased in the targeted areas.
            (12) The Internet is the critical future of the development 
        and exchange of ideas throughout the world. The same jamming 
        problem exists for the web sites. Mirror sites must be set up 
        to ensure that the Internet is accessible to as many people as 
        possible.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Broadcasting Capitol Improvements.--In addition to such sums as 
may otherwise be authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to 
be appropriated for ``Department of State and Related Agency, Related 
Agency, Broadcasting Board of Governors, Broadcasting Capitol 
Improvements'' $65,000,000 for the fiscal year 2001 which is authorized 
to remain available until expended.
    (b) International Broadcasting Operations.--
            (1) In addition to such sums as are otherwise authorized to 
        be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated 
        $34,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2000 and 2001 for 
        ``Department of State and Related Agency, Related Agency, 
        Broadcasting Board of Governors, International Broadcasting 
        Operations'' for the purposes under paragraph (2).
            (2) In addition to other authorized purposes, funds 
        appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be used for the 
        following:
                    (A) To increase personnel for the Program 
                Development Office to enhance marketing programming.
                    (B) To strengthen Radio Free Asia's presence in 
                Asia including expanding news research, production, 
                expansion of call-in shows capability and website/
                Internet enhancement.
                    (C) VOA enhancements, including the opening of four 
                new news bureaus in Asia, enhancement of TV Mandarin, 
                and an increase of stringer presence abroad.
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