[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17062]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  IN SUPPORT OF THE BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS' NEW MIDDLE EAST 
                             RADIO NETWORK

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for a 
proposal by the Broadcasting Board of Governors to enhance and expand 
service to the Middle East. According to the Chairman of the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors, the mission of U.S. international 
broadcasting is to promote the open communication of information and 
ideas in support of democracy, and the freedom to seek, receive, and 
impart information, worldwide. In pursuit of this goal, the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors has proposed a new station, the Middle 
East Radio Network.
  Would Senator Boxer care to enlighten us on the current U.S. 
Government sponsored Arabic language broadcasting in the Middle East?
  Mrs. BOXER. Yes, I would and I thank the Senator for this opportunity 
to describe the important results of the board's most recent Language 
Service Review. This review found that our current broadcasting efforts 
in the Middle East only reach approximately 2 percent of the 
population. The boards's 2001 Language Service Review highlighted the 
importance of revitalizing America's Arabic programs in order to offset 
local Arabic radio broadcasts that often serve to incite violence in 
the region. An alternative must be offered to the hate radio that so 
often incites the population to violence.
  In February, Broadcasting Board of Governors' representatives 
traveled throughout the Middle East to gather facts, to talk to 
government and media officials, and to begin to build a concept for 
success. The research emphasized the need for a greater U.S. media 
presence and increased local content to U.S. broadcasts. The 
researchers found that in spite of widespread opposition to the U.S. 
policies, there is a strong attraction to the American values of 
freedom and individualism. In addition, the Arab public would like 
information about U.S. businesses, technology and advances in medicine. 
I believe my colleague from Nebraska would like to discuss the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors' plans to address the shortcomings in 
our broadcasting services to the Middle East.
  Mr. HAGEL. I thank the Senator for the opportunity to speak about the 
new broadcast service proposed by the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
for fiscal year 2002. The goal is to provide broadcasts that will 
appeal to a broad Arabic-speaking audience by providing news and 
information about events in the region. The working name for this 
station is the Middle East Radio Network. It would be a 24 hour per 
day, 7 days per week Arabic-language station to be delivered via a 
combination of local MW and FM, and shortwave to areas where local 
delivery is not possible. Programming will include news, music, talk, 
and interactive programs with listener participation. The Broadcasting 
Board of Governors plans to feature reliable news and discussion of 
issues relevant to the audience in a format to appeal to young adults 
and to news-seekers of all ages. The programs will embody two important 
themes: individual choice and respect for others. In a region where 
more than half of the population is under 25, a successful station must 
appeal to young people who are the best hope to end the cycle of 
violence that has ravaged the region.
  I know my colleague from Washington would like to discuss the 
delivery of this new service in the Middle East, and I invite her to 
comment.
  Mrs. MURRAY. The expansion and enhancement of our radio programming 
in the Middle East are critical to the success of our policies in the 
region. The proposed service would reach audiences in the West Bank and 
Gaza, the Gulf, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Sudan in the most popular 
media of AM, FM and satellite program delivery. This is an area where 
we cannot afford to deliver our message through a third party 
broadcaster, and we must deliver accurate information about events 
occurring in the region. We must be an accessible voice in the region 
with a program and format that will attract a broader audience. This 
expanded service will also provide the region with increased exposure 
to news and information and Western journalistic standards of a free 
press. This provision of information will help counter the existing 
regional broadcasts which are often censored or under state control.
  I am confident this increased information will help us further our 
policy goals of establishing peace and stability in the region. In 
light of the terrible events of this week, I appreciate the opportunity 
to register my support for this program and our international 
broadcasting efforts. I would also add that I concur with the comments 
of my colleagues.
  Mrs. BOXER. I also concur with the remarks of my colleagues.
  Mr. HAGEL. I also concur with my colleagues and would like to ask 
Senator Inouye to provide his final comments.
  Mr. INOUYE. I concur in the comments of my colleagues about the 
importance of the enhanced programming in the Middle East proposed by 
the Broadcasting Board of Governors. It is my hope that the proposed 
service will help disseminate news and information throughout the 
region. I am pleased that the Broadcasting Board of Governors has 
committed to providing this much-needed service and look forward to 
working with my colleagues to support the Middle East Radio Network.

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