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(10) The Government Accountability Office re-
port determined that there was significant overlap 
among the BBG’s languages services, and that the 
BBG did not systematically consider the financial 
cost of overlap. 
(11) According to the Office of the Inspector 
General, the BBG’s Office of Contracts is not in 
compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, 
lacks appropriate contract oversight, and violates the 
Anti-Deficiency Act. The Office of the Inspector 
General also determined that the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors has not adequately performed 
full and open competitions or price determinations, 
has entered into hundreds of personal service con-
tracts without statutory authority, and contractors 
regularly work without valid contracts in place. 
(12) The size and make-up of the BBG work-
force should be closely examined, given the agency’s 
broader broadcasting and technical mission, as well 
as changing media technologies. 
(13) The BBG should be structured to ensure 
that more taxpayer dollars are dedicated to the sub-
stantive, broadcasting, and information-related ele-
ments of the agency’s mission. 
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(14) The lack of a coherent and well defined 
mission of the Voice of America has led to program-
ming that duplicates the efforts of the Office of 
Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, RFE/RL, In-
corporated, and the Middle East Broadcasting Net-
works, Incorporated that results in inefficient use of 
tax-payer funding. 
(15) The annual survey conducted by the 
‘‘Partnership for Public Service’’ consistently ranks 
the Broadcasting Board of Governors at or near the 
bottom of all Federal agencies in terms of ‘‘overall 
best places to work’’ and ‘‘the extent to which em-
ployees feel their skills and talents are used effec-
tively’’. The consistency of these low scores point to 
structural, cultural, and functional problems at the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors. 
(16) The Federal and non-Federal organiza-
tions that comprise the United States international 
broadcasting framework have different, yet com-
plementary, missions that necessitate coordination at 
all levels of management. 
(17) The Broadcasting Board of Governors has 
an overabundance of senior civil service positions, 
defined here as full-time employees encumbering 
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GS–14 and GS–15 positions on the General Sched-
ule pay scale. 
(18) United States international broadcasting 
should seek to leverage public-private partnerships, 
including the licensing of content and the use of 
technology owned or operated by non-governmental 
sources, where possible to expand outreach capacity. 
(19) Shortwave broadcasting has been an im-
portant method of communication that should be 
utilized in regions as a component of United States 
international broadcasting where a critical need for 
the platform exists. 
(20) Congressional action is necessary at this 
time to improve international broadcasting oper-
ations, strengthen the United States public diplo-
macy efforts, enhance the grantee surrogate broad-
casting effort, restore focus to news, programming, 
and content, and maximize the value of Federal and 
non-Federal resources that are dedicated to public 
diplomacy and international broadcasting. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are as follows: 
(1) To provide objective, accurate, credible, and 
comprehensive news and information to societies 
that lack freedom of expression and information. 
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(2) To improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and 
flexibility of United States international broad-
casting to allow it to adapt to constantly changing 
political and media environments through clarifica-
tion of missions, improved coordination, and organi-
zational restructuring. 
(3) To coordinate the complementary efforts of 
the Department of State and United States inter-
national broadcasting. 
(4) To create a United States international 
broadcasting 
framework 
that 
more 
effectively 
leverages the broadcasting tools available and cre-
ates specialization of expertise in mission oriented 
programming, while minimizing waste and ineffi-
ciency. 
(5) To improve United States international 
broadcasting workforce effectiveness, security, and 
satisfaction. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on 
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Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
(2) GRANTEE.—The term ‘‘grantee’’ means the 
non-Federal 
organization 
described 
in 
section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 
exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code 
as of day before the date of the enactment of this 
Act that receives Federal funding from the Broad-
casting Board of Governors, and includes Radio 
Free Asia, RFE/RL, Incorporated, and the Middle 
East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated. 
(3) FREEDOM
NEWS
NETWORK.—The term 
‘‘Freedom News Network’’ refers to the non-Federal 
organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax 
under section 501(a) of such Code that would re-
ceive Federal funding and be responsible for pro-
moting democratic freedoms and free media oper-
ations for foreign audiences in societies that lack 
freedom of expression and information, and con-
sisting of the consolidation of the grantee in accord-
ance with section 211. 
(4) PUBLIC DIPLOMACY.—The term ‘‘public di-
plomacy’’ means the effort to achieve broad United 
States foreign policy goals and objectives, advance 
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(6) Be designed so as to effectively reach a sig-
nificant audience. 
(7) Promote freedom of expression, religion, 
and respect for human rights and human equality. 
SEC. 6. ELIGIBLE BROADCAST AREAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Board of the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Board of 
the Freedom News Network, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of State, shall ensure that United States inter-
national broadcasting is conducted only to countries and 
regions that— 
(1) lack democratic rule, or the indicia of demo-
cratic rule, such as demonstrable proof of free and 
fair elections; 
(2) lack the legal and political environment that 
allows media organizations and journalists to oper-
ate free from government-led or permitted harass-
ment, intimidation, retribution, and from economic 
impediments to the development, production, and 
dissemination of news and related programming and 
content; 
(3) lack established, domestic, and widely acces-
sible media that provide accurate, objective, and 
comprehensive news and related programming and 
content; and 
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(4) by virtue of the criteria described in this 
subsection, would benefit the national security and 
related interests of the United States, and the safety 
and security of United States citizens at home and 
abroad. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—The United States International 
Communications Agency and the Freedom News Network 
may broadcast to countries that fall outside of the criteria 
described in subsection (a) if the Chief Executive Officer 
of the Agency and the Freedom News Network, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, determine it is in 
the national security interest of the United States, or in 
the interests of preserving the safety and security of 
United States citizens at home and abroad, to do so. 
TITLE I—ESTABLISHMENT, OR-
GANIZATION, AND MANAGE-
MENT 
OF 
THE 
UNITED 
STATES 
INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY 
Subtitle A—Establishment of the 
United 
States 
International 
Communications Agency 
SEC. 101. EXISTENCE WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. 
There is hereby established a single Federal organiza-
tion consisting of the Voice of America and the offices that 
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constitute the International Broadcasting Bureau and re-
ferred to hereafter as the ‘‘United States International 
Communications Agency’’, which shall exist within the ex-
ecutive branch of Government as an independent estab-
lishment described in section 104 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 102. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BOARD OF THE UNITED 
STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 
AGENCY. 
(a) COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF THE UNITED 
STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board (in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘Board’’) of the United States 
International Communications Agency shall consist 
of nine members, as follows: 
(A) Eight voting members who shall be ap-
pointed by the President, by and with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate. 
(B) The Secretary of State, who shall also 
be a voting member. 
(2) CHAIR.—The President shall appoint one 
member (other than the Secretary of State) as Chair 
of the Board, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate. 
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(3) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Exclusive of the 
Secretary of State, not more than four members of 
the Board shall be of the same political party. 
(4) RETENTION OF EXISTING BBG MEMBERS.— 
The presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed 
members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
serving as of the date of the enactment of this Act 
shall constitute the Board of the United States 
International Communications Agency and hold of-
fice the remainder of their original terms of office 
without reappointment to the Board. 
(b) TERM OF OFFICE.—The term of office of each 
member of the Board shall be 3 years, except that the 
Secretary of State shall remain a member of the Board 
during the Secretary’s term of service. Of the other eight 
voting members, the initial terms of office of two members 
shall be 1 year, and the initial terms of office of three 
other members shall be 2 years, as determined by the 
President. The President shall appoint, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate, Board members to fill 
vacancies occurring prior to the expiration of a term, in 
which case the members so appointed shall serve for the 
remainder of such term. Members may not serve beyond 
their terms. When there is no Secretary of State, the Act-
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ing Secretary of State shall serve as a member of the 
Board until a Secretary is appointed. 
(c) SELECTION OF BOARD.—Members of the Board 
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 distinguished in the fields of public diplo-
macy, mass communications, print, broadcast media, or 
foreign affairs. 
(d) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Board, while 
attending meetings of the Board or while engaged in du-
ties relating to such meetings or in other activities of the 
Board pursuant to this section (including travel time) 
shall be entitled to receive compensation equal to the daily 
equivalent of the compensation prescribed for level IV of 
the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code. While away from their homes or reg-
ular places of business, members of the Board may be al-
lowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of sub-
sistence, in accordance with section 5703 of such title for 
persons in the Government service employed intermit-
tently. The Secretary of State shall not be entitled to any 
compensation under this chapter. 
(e) DECISIONS.—Decisions of the Board shall be 
made by majority vote, a quorum being present. A quorum 
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shall consist of a majority of members then serving at the 
time a decision of the Board is made. 
(f) TRANSPARENCY.—The Board of the United 
States International Communications Agency shall adhere 
to the provisions specified in the Government in the Sun-
shine Act (Public Law 94–409). 
SEC. 103. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF 
THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL COM-
MUNICATIONS AGENCY. 
The Board of the United States International Com-
munications Agency shall have the following authorities: 
(1) To review and evaluate the mission and op-
eration of, and to assess the quality, effectiveness, 
and professional integrity of, all programming pro-
duced by the United States International Commu-
nications Agency to ensure alignment with the broad 
foreign policy objectives of the United States. 
(2) To ensure that broadcasting of the United 
States International Communications Agency is con-
ducted in accordance with the standards specified in 
section 5. 
(3) To review, evaluate, and recommend to the 
Chief Executive of the United States International 
Communications Agency, at least annually, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, the necessity 
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of adding or deleting of language services of the 
Agency. 
(4) To submit to the President and Congress 
an annual report which summarizes and evaluates 
activities of the United States International Commu-
nications Agency described in this title. 
SEC. 104. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFI-
CER 
OF 
THE 
UNITED 
STATES 
INTER-
NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be a Chief Executive 
Officer of the United States International Communica-
tions Agency, appointed by the Board of the Agency for 
a five-year term, renewable at the Board’s discretion, and 
subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
governing appointments, classification, and compensation. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Chief Executive Officer 
shall be selected from among United States citizens with 
two or more of the following qualifications: 
(1) A distinguished career in managing a large 
organization or Federal agency. 
(2) Experience in the field of mass communica-
tions, print, or broadcast media. 
(3) Experience in foreign affairs or inter-
national relations. 
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(4) Experience in directing United States public 
diplomacy programs. 
(c) TERMINATION
AND
TRANSFER.—Immediately 
upon appointment of the Chief Executive Officer under 
subsection (a), the Director of the International Broad-
casting Bureau shall be terminated, and all of the respon-
sibilities and authorities of the Director shall be trans-
ferred to and assumed by the Chief Executive Officer. 
(d) REMOVAL OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.—The 
Chief Executive Officer under subsection (a) may be re-
moved upon a two-thirds majority vote of the members 
of the Board of the United States International Commu-
nications Agency then serving. 
(e) COMPENSATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF-
FICER.—Any Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
International Communications Agency hired after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, shall be eligible to receive 
compensation up to an annual rate of pay equivalent to 
level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 105. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE CHIEF EXECU-
TIVE 
OFFICER 
OF 
THE 
UNITED 
STATES 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY. 
(a) DUTIES.—The Chief Executive Officer under sec-
tion 104 shall direct operations of the United States Inter-
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national Communications Agency and shall have the fol-
lowing non-delegable authorities, subject to the super-
vision of the Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency: 
(1) To supervise all Federal broadcasting activi-
ties conducted pursuant to title V of the United 
States Information and Educational Exchange Act 
of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.) and the Voice of 
America as described in subtitle B of title I of this 
Act. 
(2) To make and ensure compliance with the 
terms and conditions of the grant agreement in ac-
cordance with section 110. 
(3) To review engineering activities to ensure 
that all broadcasting elements receive the highest 
quality and cost-effective delivery services. 
(4) To undertake such studies as may be nec-
essary to identify areas in which broadcasting activi-
ties under the authority of the United States Inter-
national Communications Agency could be made 
more efficient and economical. 
(5) To the extent considered necessary to carry 
out the functions of the Board, procure supplies, 
services, and other personal property, as well as pro-
curement pursuant to section 1535 of title 31, 
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United States Code (commonly referred to as the 
‘‘Economy Act’’), of such goods and services from 
other Federal agencies for the Board as the Board 
determines are appropriate. 
(6) To appoint such staff personnel for the 
Board as the Board may determine to be necessary, 
subject to the provisions of title 5, United States 
Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
service, and to fix their compensation in accordance 
with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III 
of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates. 
(7) To obligate and expend, for official recep-
tion and representation expenses, such amounts as 
may be made available through appropriations Acts. 
(8) To make available in the annual reports re-
quired under section 103 information on funds ex-
pended on administrative and managerial services by 
the Board of the United States Communications 
Agency, and the steps the Board has taken to re-
duce unnecessary overhead costs for each of the 
broadcasting services. 
(9) To provide for the use of United States 
Government broadcasting capacity to the Freedom 
News Network. 
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(10)(A) To procure temporary and intermittent 
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 such 
title. 
(B) To allow those individuals providing such 
services, while away from their homes or their reg-
ular places of business, travel expenses (including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence) as authorized by sec-
tion 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons 
in the Government service employed intermittently, 
while so employed. 
(11) To utilize the provisions of titles III, IV, 
V, VII, VIII, IX, and X of the United States Infor-
mation and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 
U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), and section 6 of Reorganiza-
tion Plan Number 2 of 1977, as in effect on the day 
before the effective date of title XIII of the Foreign 
Affairs Agencies Consolidation Act of 1998, to the 
extent the Board considers necessary to carry out 
the provisions and purposes of this Act. 
(12) To utilize the authorities of any other stat-
ute, reorganization plan, Executive order, regulation, 
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