[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MARC NATHANSON AS CHAIRMAN OF THE 
                    BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                        HON. RICHARD A. GEPHARDT

                              of missouri

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 24, 2002

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement from the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors, it is a pleasure to recognize Marc 
Nathanson, who was named to the Board in 1995 and has served as its 
Chairman since 1999. Marc is a very dear friend to us; a person of the 
highest integrity and intelligence and it is with considerable pride 
that we share with our colleagues some of the many challenges he faced 
during his tenure and the outstanding manner in which he has served.
  Marc led the BBG through its transition to independence in the Fall 
of 1999, ensuring the appropriate distribution of resources and 
authorities as the responsibilities of the U.S. Information Agency were 
divided between the new broadcasting entity and the State Department.
  He set the standard for cooperative relationships between the State 
Department and the White House in a manner that protected the 
journalistic independence of the broadcasters, yet supported the new 
agency's ability to carry out its mission to present the policies of 
the United States clearly and effectively.
  Marc chaired the Board during strong tests of its legislated role as 
a firewall--both in ensuring that the broadcast entities acted 
according to strong journalistic standards and principles, and ensuring 
that the broadcasters were protected from unwarranted interference from 
the State Department.
  He led the Board through periods of foreign policy crisis, where the 
BBG's ability to surge its broadcasting to meet foreign policy 
priorities was severely tested. For example, during the crisis in the 
Balkans, the BBG established the ``Ring Around Serbia''--a series of 
transmitters quickly established to allow the people of the region to 
have accurate news and information about the war around them, and of 
the crimes being committed against civilian populations. The success of 
this effort was evident when Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was named 
the most popular radio station in the region at the height of the 
crisis.
  He faced the challenge of terrorism, and ensured that the BBG was a 
strong part of the war on terrorism as the agency's broadcasts surged 
in the Dari and Pashto languages to Afghanistan and other parts of the 
Middle East and South Asia.
  Marc challenged the agency to confront the need for new broadcast 
activities in this region where news and information is either 
government controlled or unavailable. He chaired the Board as it 
created the agency's new Middle East Radio Network (``Radio Sawa''), 
putting U.S. international broadcasting high in the ratings among young 
Arab audiences throughout the Middle East.
  He helped lead the agency into the 21st Century by stressing the use 
of new technologies and the need to provide programming targeted at key 
audiences. He emphasized the need for more effective research, both to 
evaluate current programming and to lay the foundation for new 
programming, allowing the agency to more efficiently use its limited 
resources.
  He shared a vision with other BBG members for enhanced television 
programming worldwide--and especially to Islamic audiences--encouraging 
the consideration of opportunities for television broadcasting to the 
Middle East.
  Mr. Speaker, we invite our colleagues to join us in congratulating 
Marc Nathanson for his many accomplishments as head of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors and to thank him for giving so freely of his time 
and expertise to help deliver America's message abroad.




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