I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1765 

To provide for the establishment of two nationally distributed video 

programming channels providing language instruction. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 29, 2007 

Mr. BAIRD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To provide for the establishment of two nationally distributed 

video programming channels providing language instruction. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Access to Language 

5 Education Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL LANGUAGE INSTRUC7 TION DISTRIBUTION PLAN. 

8 (a) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN REQUIRED.—Within one 

9 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

10 of Commerce, acting through the National Telecommunimstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

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1 cations and Information Administration, and after con2 sultation with the Secretary of Education, the Federal 

3 Communications Commission, the Secretary of State, and 

4 the Secretary of Defense, shall prepare and submit to each 

5 House of the Congress a plan for national distribution of 

6 video programming channels providing language instruc7 tion in accordance with the requirements of this section. 

8 (b) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—The plan required by 

9 this section shall— 

10 (1) provide for the distribution of two channels 

11 of video programming providing language instruc12 tion; 

13 (2) provide that— 

14 (A) one of such channels— 

15 (i) shall be composed of programming 

16 providing instruction in English for non17 English speaking individuals; and 

18 (ii) shall be distributed in each tele19 vision market via broadcasting or cable 

20 and satellite, and distributed nationally via 

21 Internet delivery; and 

22 (B) the other such channel— 

23 (i) shall be composed of programming 

24 providing instruction in languages that are 

25 not widely taught in educational institumstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

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1 tions in the United States and that are 

2 likely to have significant value for the 

3 United States in global competitiveness, 

4 trade, international relations, national se5 curity, and defense; and 

6 (ii) shall be distributed nationally via 

7 Internet delivery; and 

8 (3) identify— 

9 (A) the participants to be engaged in— 

10 (i) producing and evaluating the in11 structional programming; and 

12 (ii) broadcasting or otherwise distrib13 uting the programming in each market; 

14 and 

15 (B) the methods by which such partici16 pants will be engaged and compensated for 

17 their participation; 

18 (4) evaluate the costs, and methods for funding 

19 the costs, of providing and distributing such instruc20 tional programming; and 

21 (5) recommend any legislative or regulatory 

22 changes required to implement the plan. 

23 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

24 are authorized to be appropriated to develop, submit, and 

25 implement the plan required by this section, such sums 

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1 as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008 each of the 3 

2 succeeding fiscal years. 

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