II 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2183 

United States international programming to Ukraine and neighboring regions. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 27, 2014 

Mr. MCCONNELL introduced the following bill; which was read twice, 

considered, read the third time, and passed 

A BILL 

United States international programming to Ukraine and 

neighboring regions. 

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

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS. 

4 (a) Congress finds and declares the following: 

5 (1) The Russian Government has deliberately 

6 blocked the Ukrainian people’s access to uncensored 

7 sources of information and has provided alternative 

8 news and information that is both inaccurate and in9 flammatory. 

10 (2) United States international programming 

11 exists to advance the United States interests and 


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1 values by presenting accurate and comprehensive 

2 news and information, which is the foundation for 

3 democratic governance. 

4 (3) The opinions and views of the Ukrainian 

5 people, especially those people located in the eastern 

6 regions and Crimea, are not being accurately rep7 resented in Russian dominated mass media. 

8 (4) Russian forces have seized more than five 

9 television stations in Crimea and taken over trans10 missions, switching to a 24/7 Russian propaganda 

11 format; this increase in programming augments the 

12 already robust pro-Russian programming to 

13 Ukraine. 

14 (5) United States international programming 

15 has the potential to combat this anti-democratic 

16 propaganda. 

17 (b) PROGRAMMING.—Radio Free Europe/Radio Lib18 erty (RFE/RL), Incorporated, and the Voice of America 

19 service to Ukraine and neighboring regions shall— 

20 (1) provide news and information that is acces21 sible, credible, and accurate; 

22 (2) emphasize investigative and analytical jour23 nalism to highlight inconsistencies and misinforma24 tion provided by Russian or pro-Russian media out25 lets; 


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1 (3) prioritize programming to areas where ac2 cess to uncensored sources of information is limited 

3 or non-existent, especially populations serviced by 

4 Russian supported media outlets; 

5 (4) increase the number of reporters and orga6 nizational presence in eastern Ukraine, especially in 

7 Crimea; 

8 (5) promote democratic processes, respect for 

9 human rights, freedom of the press, and territorial 

10 sovereignty; and 

11 (6) take necessary preparatory steps to con12 tinue and increase programming and content that 

13 promotes democracy and government transparency 

14 in Russia. 

15 (c) PROGRAMMING SURGE.—RFE/RL, Incorporated, 

16 and Voice of America programming to Ukraine and neigh17 boring regions shall— 

18 (1) prioritize programming to eastern Ukraine, 

19 including Crimea, and Moldova, and to ethnic and 

20 linguistic Russian populations, as well as to Tatar 

21 minorities; 

22 (2) prioritize news and information that directly 

23 contributes to the target audiences’ understanding of 

24 political and economic developments in Ukraine and 

25 Moldova, including countering misinformation that 


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1 may originate from other news outlets, especially 

2 Russian supported news outlets; 

3 (3) provide programming content 24 hours a 

4 day, seven days a week to target populations, using 

5 all available and effective distribution outlets, includ6 ing— 

7 (A) at least 8 weekly hours of total original 

8 television and video content in Ukrainian, Rus9 sian, and Tatar languages, not inclusive of live 

10 video streaming coverage of breaking news, to 

11 be distributed on satellite, digital, and through 

12 regional television affiliates by the Voice of 

13 America; and 

14 (B) at least 14 weekly hours the total 

15 audio content in Ukrainian, Russian, and Tatar 

16 languages to be distributed on satellite, digital, 

17 and through regional radio affiliates of RFE/ 

18 RL, Incorporated; 

19 (4) expand the use, audience, and audience en20 gagement of mobile news and multimedia platforms 

21 by RFE/RL, Incorporated, and the Voice of Amer22 ica, including through Internet-based social net23 working platforms; and 

24 (5) partner with private sector broadcasters and 

25 affiliates to seek and start co-production for new, 


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1 original content, when possible, to increase distribu2 tion. 

3 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

4 authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2014, in addi5 tion to funds otherwise made available for such purposes, 

6 up to $10,000,000 to carry out programming in the 

7 Ukrainian, Balkan, Russian, and Tatar language services 

8 of RFE/RL, Incorporated, and the Voice of America, for 

9 the purpose of bolstering existing United States program10 ming to the people of Ukraine and neighboring regions, 

11 and increasing programming capacity and jamming cir12 cumvention technology to overcome any disruptions to 

13 service. 

14 (e) REPORT.—Not later than 15 days after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Broadcasting Board of 

16 Governors shall submit to the Committees on Foreign Af17 fairs and Appropriations of the House of Representatives 

18 and the Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropria19 tions of the Senate a detailed report on plans to increase 

20 broadcasts pursuant to subsections (a) and (b). 

Æ 


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