I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4440
To authorize appropriations to expand and enhance United States inter-
national broadcasting operations around the world, specifically enhancing
the depth and scope of programming throughout the People’s Republic
of China.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 11, 2000
Mr. PORTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on International Relations
A BILL
To authorize appropriations to expand and enhance United
States international broadcasting operations around the
world, specifically enhancing the depth and scope of pro-
gramming throughout the People’s Republic of China.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) A fundamental prerequisite to political and
economic freedom is an informed citizenry. In many
countries around the world basic freedoms are de-
nied, including access to information. One of the
best and most cost-effective ways to help enhance
the respect for human rights abroad is to dissemi-
nate reliable information that serves to foster the
spirit of democracy in closed societies. By doing so,
not only is the United States interest served by help-
ing to spread democracy, but democratic activists
are also empowered to challenge the status quo.
(2) Currently, United States international
broadcasting broadcasts in 61 languages around the
world.
(3) Research shows that for international
broadcasting to reach the greatest number of people,
enhanced marketing must take place. Marketing
which will allow the potential audience to find the
programming on the appropriate frequency, channel,
or web site needs to be enhanced. Marketing efforts
abroad for placement on local affiliate networks need
to be developed. The base of international broad-
casting audiences must continue to be broadened to
recruit new listeners, and, particularly, to target the
younger generation.
(4) When crises arise around the world, such as
the Kosova crisis in 1999, United States inter-
national broadcasting has no means to respond to
such crises in a timely manner. Currently, budget
resources are shifted internally, pulling resources
away from others sources.
(5) Both Radio Free Asia and the Voice of
America, as a surrogate for a free press in the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China, provide an invaluable source
of uncensored information to the Chinese people, in-
cluding objective and authoritative news of in-coun-
try and regional events, as well as accurate news
about the United States and its policies.
(6) Radio Free Asia currently broadcasts 24-
hours a day in China, with 12 hours in Mandarin,
8 hours in Tibetan, 3 hours in Cantonese and 1
hour in Uygur.
(7) According to a 1990 census, 4.8 million
Mongolians live in China, and there is no service in
their native language available.
(8) Radio Free Asia’s ‘‘call in listen’’ programs
reported an average of over 27,200 calls per month,
for the months in the beginning of 2000. However,
less than 2 percent of those callers were able to
reach Radio Free Asia and voice their opinion.
(9) Voice of America currently broadcasts 84
hours per week in Mandarin, 28 hours per week in
Tibetan and 14 hours per week in Cantonese. Voice
of America’s Mandarin TV service includes 1-hour
programming, five days a week.
(10) Currently neither RFA nor VOA have a
news bureau in Taipei or Shanghai.
(11) Signals of all United States international
broadcasting programs often have difficulty being re-
ceived due to widespread jamming practices of op-
pressive government regimes. If stronger frequencies
are used or if the broadcastings can come from var-
ious angles, the reception will be increased in the
targeted areas.
(12) The Internet is the critical future of the
development and exchange of ideas throughout the
world. The same jamming problem exists for the web
sites. Mirror sites must be set up to ensure that the
Internet is accessible to as many people as possible.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) BROADCASTING CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS.—In
addition to such sums as may otherwise be authorized to
be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated
for ‘‘Department of State and Related Agency, Related
Agency, Broadcasting Board of Governors, Broadcasting
Capitol Improvements’’ $65,000,000 for the fiscal year
2001 which is authorized to remain available until ex-
pended.