I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7070 
To amend the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to 
reorganize United States international broadcasting, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. ROYCE, and 
Mr. PENCE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend the United States International Broadcasting Act 
of 1994 to reorganize United States international broad-
casting, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Broad-
casting Reorganization Act of 2008’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES INTER-
NATIONAL BROADCASTING AGENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 304 of the United States 
International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6203) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 304. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES INTER-
NATIONAL BROADCASTING AGENCY. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established as an 
independent agency in the executive branch the United 
States International Broadcasting Agency (in this title re-
ferred to as the ‘Agency’). 
‘‘(b) BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE AGENCY.— 
‘‘(1) HEAD OF AGENCY.—The Agency shall be 
headed by the Board of Governors of the United 
States International Broadcasting Agency (in this 
title referred to as the ‘Board of Governors’). 
‘‘(2) 
AUTHORITIES
AND
FUNCTIONS.—The 
Board of Governors shall— 
‘‘(A) carry out the authorities and func-
tions of the Agency under section 305; and 
‘‘(B) be responsible for the exercise of all 
authorities and powers and the discharge of all 
duties and functions of the Agency. 
‘‘(3) COMPOSITION
OF
THE
BOARD
OF
GOV-
ERNORS.— 
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member so appointed shall serve for the remainder 
of such term. Any member whose term has expired 
may serve until a successor has been appointed and 
qualified. When there is no Secretary of State, the 
Acting Secretary of State shall serve as a member 
of the board until a Secretary is appointed. 
‘‘(5) SELECTION OF BOARD OF GOVERNORS.— 
Members of the Board of Governors appointed by 
the President shall be citizens of the United States 
who are not regular full-time employees of the 
United States Government. Such members shall be 
selected by the President from among citizens distin-
guished in the fields of mass communications, print, 
broadcast media, or foreign affairs. 
‘‘(6) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Board 
of Governors, while attending meetings of the board 
or while engaged in duties relating to such meetings 
or in other activities of the board pursuant to this 
section (including travel time) shall be entitled to re-
ceive compensation equal to the daily equivalent of 
the compensation prescribed for level IV of the Ex-
ecutive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code. While away from their homes or 
regular places of business, members of the board 
may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
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in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for per-
sons in the Government service employed intermit-
tently. The Secretary of State shall not be entitled 
to any compensation under this title, but may be al-
lowed travel expenses as provided under this para-
graph. 
‘‘(7) DECISIONS.—Decisions of the Board of 
Governors shall be made by majority vote, a quorum 
being present. A quorum shall consist of five mem-
bers. 
‘‘(8) IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, any limita-
tions on liability that apply to the members of the 
Board of Governors also shall apply to such mem-
bers when acting in their capacities as members of 
the Boards of Directors of RFE/RL, Incorporated, 
Middle East Broadcasting Network, and Radio Free 
Asia. 
‘‘(c) DIRECTOR.— 
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Board of Governors 
shall appoint a Director of the Agency. The Director 
shall receive basic pay at the rate payable for level 
III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of 
title 5, United States Code. The Director may be re-
moved through a majority vote of the Board, a 
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quorum being present. A quorum shall consist of five 
members. 
‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.—The Director 
shall have the following functions and duties: 
‘‘(A) To exercise the authorities delegated 
by the Board of Governors pursuant to section 
305(b). 
‘‘(B) To carry out all broadcasting activi-
ties conducted pursuant to this title, the Radio 
Broadcasting to Cuba Act, and the Television 
Broadcasting to Cuba Act. 
‘‘(C) To examine and make recommenda-
tions to the Board of Governors on long-term 
strategies for the future of international broad-
casting, including the use of new technologies. 
‘‘(D) To review engineering activities to 
ensure that all broadcasting elements receive 
the highest quality and cost-effective delivery 
services. 
‘‘(E) To procure supplies, services, and 
other personal property to carry out the func-
tions of the Agency. 
‘‘(F) To obligate and expend, for official 
reception and representation expenses, such 
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amounts as may be made available through ap-
propriations. 
‘‘(G) To provide for the use of United 
States Government transmitter capacity for 
relay of broadcasting by grantees. 
‘‘(H) To procure temporary and intermit-
tent personal services to the same extent as is 
authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United 
States Code, at rates not to exceed the daily 
equivalent of the rate provided for positions 
classified above grade GS–15 of the General 
Schedule under section 5108 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
‘‘(I) To procure for the Agency, pursuant 
to section 1535 of title 31, United States Code, 
goods and services from other departments or 
agencies. 
‘‘(J) To the extent funds are available, to 
lease space and acquire personal property for 
the Agency. 
‘‘(d) INSPECTOR GENERAL AUTHORITIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of 
the Department of State shall exercise the same au-
thorities with respect to the Agency as the Inspector 
General exercises under the Inspector General Act of 
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1978 and section 209 of the Foreign Service Act of 
1980 with respect to the Department of State. 
‘‘(2) RESPECT FOR JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY 
OF BROADCASTERS.—The Inspector General of the 
Department of State shall respect the journalistic in-
tegrity of the broadcasters covered by this title and 
may not evaluate the philosophical or political per-
spectives reflected in the content of broadcasts.’’. 
(b) RETENTION OF EXISTING BOARD MEMBERS.— 
The members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors ap-
pointed by the President pursuant to section 304 of the 
United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 on 
the day before the effective date of this Act and holding 
office as of that date may serve the remainder of their 
terms of office as members of the Board of Governors es-
tablished under section 304(b) of the United States Inter-
national Broadcasting Act of 1994, as amended by sub-
section (a) of this section, without reappointment, or if 
their term has expired may serve until a successor is ap-
pointed and qualified. 
SEC. 3. OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be established by the 
Board of Governors an Office of the Ombudsman (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Office’’). The Director of the 
United States International Broadcasting Agency shall 
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