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. 
(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. 
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(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, 
agreement, determination, or other official document 
or proceeding that had been available to the Director 
of the United States Information Agency, the Inter-
national Broadcasting Bureau, or the Board of the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors before the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
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(13)(A) To provide for the payment of primary 
and secondary school expenses for dependents of 
personnel stationed in the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) at a cost not to 
exceed expenses authorized by the Department of 
Defense for such schooling for dependents of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces stationed in the Common-
wealth, if the Board determines that schools avail-
able in the Commonwealth are unable to provide 
adequately for the education of the dependents of 
such personnel. 
(B) To provide transportation for dependents of 
such personnel between their places of residence and 
those schools for which expenses are provided under 
subparagraph (A), if the Board determines that such 
schools are not accessible by public means of trans-
portation. 
(b) CONSULTATIONS.—The Chief Executive Officer 
of the United States International Communications Agen-
cy shall regularly consult with the Chief Executive Officer 
of the Freedom News Network and the Secretary of State 
as described in sections 108 and 109. 
SEC. 106. ROLE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. 
To assist the Board of the United States Inter-
national Communications Agency in carrying out its func-
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tions, the Secretary of State shall provide to the Board 
information in accordance with section 109(b), as well as 
guidance on United States foreign policy and public diplo-
macy priorities, as the Secretary determines appropriate. 
SEC. 107. ROLE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of the De-
partment of State shall exercise the same authorities with 
respect to the United States International Communica-
tions Agency and the Freedom News Network as the In-
spector General exercises with respect to the Department. 
(b) JOURNALIST INTEGRITY.—The Inspector General 
of the Department of State shall respect the journalistic 
integrity of all the broadcasters covered by this Act and 
may not evaluate the philosophical or political perspectives 
reflected in the content of the broadcasts of such broad-
casters. 
SEC. 108. ENHANCED COORDINATION BETWEEN UNITED 
STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 
AGENCY AND THE FREEDOM NEWS NET-
WORK; 
PROGRAM 
CONTENT 
SHARING; 
GRANTEE INDEPENDENCE. 
(a) MEETINGS.—The chair of the Board and Chief 
Executive Officer of the United States International Com-
munications Agency shall meet at least on a quarterly 
basis with the chair and Chief Executive Officer, as identi-
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fied in section 221, of the Freedom News Network to dis-
cuss mutual issues of concern, including the following: 
(1) The strategic direction of their respective 
organizations, including target audiences. 
(2) Languages of information transmission. 
(3) Prioritization of funding allocations. 
(4) Areas for greater collaboration. 
(5) Elimination of programming overlap. 
(6) Efficiencies that can be realized through 
best practices and lessons learned. 
(7) Sharing of program content. 
(b) INFORMATION SHARING.—The Chief Executive 
Officer of the United States International Broadcasting 
Agency and the Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom 
News Network shall share all strategic planning docu-
ments, including the following: 
(1) Results monitoring and evaluation. 
(2) Annual planning documents. 
(3) Audience surveys conducted. 
(4) Budget formulation documents. 
(c) PROGRAM
CONTENT
SHARING.—The United 
States International Communications Agency and the 
Freedom News Network shall make all original content 
available to each other through a shared platform in ac-
cordance with section 112(a)(3). 
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(d) INDEPENDENCE OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NET-
WORK.—The United States International Communications 
Agency, while conducting management of the grant de-
scribed in section 110, shall avoid even the appearance of 
involvement in daily operations, decisions, or management 
of the Freedom News Network, and ensure that the dis-
tinctions between the United States International Commu-
nications Agency and the Freedom News Network remain 
in accordance with this Act. 
SEC. 109. ENHANCED COORDINATION AMONG THE UNITED 
STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 
AGENCY, THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK, 
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE; FREEDOM 
NEWS NETWORK INDEPENDENCE. 
(a) COORDINATION MEETINGS.—The Chief Execu-
tive Officer of the United States International Commu-
nications Agency and the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Freedom News Network shall meet, at least on a quarterly 
basis, with the Secretary of State to— 
(1) review and evaluate broadcast activities; 
(2) eliminate overlap of programming; and 
(3) determine long-term strategies for inter-
national broadcasting to ensure such strategies are 
in accordance with the broad foreign policy interests 
of the United States. 
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(b) STRATEGIC PLANNING DOCUMENTS.—The Chief 
Executive Officer of the United States International Com-
munications Agency, the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Freedom News Network, and the Secretary of State shall 
share all relevant unclassified strategic planning docu-
ments produced by the Agency, the Freedom News Net-
work, and the Department of State. 
(c) FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK INDEPENDENCE.— 
The Department of State, while coordinating with the 
Freedom News Network in accordance with subsection (a), 
shall avoid even the appearance of involvement in the daily 
operations, decisions, or management of the Freedom 
News Network, and ensure that the distinctions between 
the Department of State and Freedom News Network re-
main in accordance with this Act. 
SEC. 110. GRANTS TO THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Executive Officer of the 
United States International Communications Agency shall 
make grants to RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, 
or the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated 
only after the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency and 
the Chief Executive Officer of Freedom News Network 
certify to the appropriate congressional committees that 
the headquarters of the Freedom News Network and its 
senior administrative and managerial staff are in a loca-
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tion which ensures economy, operational effectiveness, and 
accountability, and the following conditions have been sat-
isfied: 
(1) RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, 
and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incor-
porated have submitted to the Chief Executive Offi-
cer of the United States International Communica-
tions Agency a plan for consolidation and reconstitu-
tion as described in section 211 under the new cor-
porate name ‘‘Freedom News Network’’ with a sin-
gle organizational structure and management frame-
work, as described in section 221. 
(2) The necessary steps towards the consolida-
tion described in paragraph (1) have been com-
pleted, including the selection of a Board, Chair, and 
Chief Executive Officer for the Freedom News Net-
work, the establishment of bylaws to govern the 
Freedom News Network, and the filing of articles of 
incorporation. 
(3) A plan for content sharing has been devel-
oped in accordance with section 112(a)(3). 
(4) A strategic plan for programming imple-
mentation has been developed as specified in section 
222(c), including the following elements: 
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(A) The strategic goals and objectives of 
the Freedom News Network for the upcoming 
fiscal year. 
(B) The alignment of the Freedom News 
Network’s resources with the strategic goals 
and objectives referred to in subparagraph (A). 
(C) Clear benchmarks that establish the 
progress made towards achieving the strategic 
goals and objectives referred to in subparagraph 
(A). 
(D) A plan to monitor and evaluate the 
success of the Freedom News Network’s broad-
casting efforts. 
(E) A reflective analysis on the activities 
on the past fiscal year. 
(F) Any changes to facility leases, con-
tracts, or ownership that would result in the re-
location of staff or personnel. 
(G) Any changes to broadcast languages, 
including the transfer of language services to 
the Freedom News Network from the United 
States International Communications Agency, 
or to an organization other than the Freedom 
New Network. 
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(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Board of the United 
States International Communications Agency shall submit 
to Congress a report on the status of any grants made 
to the Freedom News Network. 
(c) ALTERNATIVE GRANTEE.—If the Chief Executive 
Officer of the United States International Communica-
tions Agency, after consultation with the Board of the 
Agency and the appropriate congressional committees, de-
termines at any time that the Freedom News Network is 
not carrying out the mission described in section 212 and 
adhering to the standards and principles described in sec-
tion 213 in an effective and economical manner for which 
a grant has been awarded, the Chief Executive Officer of 
the Agency, upon approval of the Board, may award to 
another entity the grant at issue to carry out such func-
tions after soliciting and considering applications from eli-
gible entities in such manner and accompanied by such 
information as the Board may require. 
(d) NOT A FEDERAL ENTITY.—Nothing in this Act 
may be construed to make the Freedom News Network 
a Federal agency or instrumentality. 
(e) AUTHORITY.—Grants authorized under this sec-
tion for the United States International Communications 
Agency shall be available to make annual grants to the 
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Freedom News Network for the purpose of carrying out 
the mission described in section 212 and adhering to the 
standards and principles described in section 213. 
(f) GRANT AGREEMENT.—Grants authorized under 
this section to the Freedom News Network by the Chief 
Executive Officer of the United States International Com-
munications Agency shall only be made in accordance with 
a grant agreement. Such grant agreement shall include 
the following provisions: 
(1) A grant shall be used only for activities in 
accordance with carrying out the mission described 
in section 212 and adhering to the standards and 
principles described in section 213. 
(2) The Freedom News Network shall comply 
with the requirements of this section. 
(3) Failure to comply with the requirements of 
this section may result in suspension or termination 
of a grant without further obligation by the United 
States International Communications Agency or the 
United States. 
(4) Use of broadcasting technology owned and 
operated by the United States International Commu-
nications Agency shall be made available through an 
International Cooperative Administrative Support 
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Service (ICASS) agreement or memorandum of un-
derstanding. 
(5) The Freedom News Network shall, upon re-
quest, provide to the Chief Executive Officer of the 
United States International Communications Agency 
documentation which details the expenditure of any 
grant funds. 
(6) A grant may not be used to require the 
Freedom News Network to comply with any require-
ments other than the requirements specified in this 
Act. 
(7) A grant may not be used to allocate re-
sources within the Freedom News Network in a 
manner that is inconsistent with the Freedom News 
Network strategic plan described in section 222(c). 
(g) PROHIBITIONS
ON
THE USE
OF GRANTS.— 
Grants authorized under this section may not be used for 
the following purposes: 
(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) 
or (C), to pay any salary or other compensation, or 
enter into any contract providing for the payment of 
salary or compensation, in excess of the rates estab-
lished for comparable positions under title 5, United 
States Code, or the foreign relations laws of the 
United States, except that no employee may be paid 
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a salary or other compensation in excess of the rate 
of pay payable for level III of the Executive Sched-
ule under section 5314 of such title. 
(B) Salary and other compensation limitations 
under subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect 
to any employee covered by a union agreement re-
quiring a salary or other compensation in excess of 
such limitations before the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(C) Notwithstanding the limitations specified in 
subparagraph (A), grants authorized under this sec-
tion may be used by the Freedom News Network to 
pay up to six employees employed in the Wash-
ington, DC, area, salary or other compensation not 
to exceed the rate of pay payable for level II of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, 
United States Code, except that such shall not apply 
to the Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom News 
Network in accordance with section 221(e). 
(2) For any activity intended to influence the 
passage or defeat of legislation being considered by 
Congress. 
(3) To enter into a contract or obligation to pay 
severance payments for voluntary separation for em-
ployees hired after December 1, 1990, except as may 
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be required by United States law or the laws of the 
country where such an employee is stationed. 
(4) For first class travel for any employee of 
the Freedom News Network, or the relative of any 
such employee. 
SEC. 111. OTHER PERSONNEL AND COMPENSATION LIMITA-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the organizational and 
personnel restrictions described in subsection (c), the 
Chief Executive Officer of the United States International 
Communications Agency shall have the discretion to deter-
mine the distribution of all personnel within the Agency, 
subject to the approval of the Board of the Agency. 
(b) LIMITATION ON COMPENSATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—No employee of the United 
States International Communications Agency, other 
than the Chief Executive Officer or Director of the 
Voice of America, shall be eligible to receive com-
pensation at a rate in excess of step 10 of an annual 
rate of basic pay for grade GS–15 of the General 
Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The limitation described in 
paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of members 
of the Board in accordance with section 102(d) or 
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affect the rights of employees covered under the 
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. 
(c) PROHIBITION
ON
CERTAIN
NEW
EMPLOY-
MENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act and ending on the date that 
is five years after such date, the United States 
International Communications Agency may not fill 
any currently unfilled full-time or part-time position 
compensated at an annual rate of basic pay for 
grade GS–14 or GS–15 of the General Schedule 
under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, 
including any currently filled position in which the 
incumbent resigns, retires, or otherwise leaves such 
position during the such five-year period. 
(2) WAIVER.—The Chief Executive Officer of 
the United States International Communications 
Agency may waive the prohibition specified in para-
graph (1) if the position is determined essential to 
the functioning of the Agency and documented as 
such in the report required under section 112(a), or 
necessary for the acquisition of skills or knowledge 
not sufficiently represented in the current workforce 
of the Agency. The Chief Executive Officer of the 
Agency shall consult with the appropriate congres-
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sional committees before issuing a waiver under this 
paragraph. 
(d) CONTINUATION OF FEDERAL STATUS.—Nothing 
in this Act may be interpreted to change the Federal sta-
tus or rights of employees of the Voice of America or the 
International Broadcasting Bureau by the consolidation 
and establishment of the United States International 
Communications Agency. 
SEC. 112. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE UNITED 
STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 
AGENCY. 
(a) REORGANIZATION REPORT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief 
Executive Officer of the United States International Com-
munications Agency shall submit to the appropriate Con-
gressional committees a report that includes the following: 
(1) A plan to assess and provide recommenda-
tions on the appropriate size and necessity of all 
current offices and positions (also referred to as a 
‘‘staffing pattern’’) within the Agency, including full- 
time employee positions rated at the Senior Execu-
tive Service (SES) level or at an annual rate of basic 
pay for grades GS–14 or GS–15 of the General 
Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United 
States Code. Such plan shall include a detailed orga-
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nizational structure that delineates lines of authority 
and reporting between junior staff, management, 
and leadership. 
(2) A plan to consolidate the Voice of America 
and the International Broadcasting Bureau into a 
single Federal entity identified as the ‘‘United 
States International Communications Agency’’, and 
how the structure and alignment of resources sup-
port the fulfillment of the Agency’s mission and 
standards and principles as described in sections 5 
and 122. 
(3) A plan for developing a platform to share 
all programming content between the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Free-
dom News Network, including making available for 
distribution all programming content licensed or pro-
duced by the Agency and the Freedom News Net-
work, and expanding the functionality of the plat-
forms already in existence, such as the web content 
management system ‘‘Pangea’’. 
(4) A joint plan written with the Chief Execu-
tive Officer of the Freedom News Network to coordi-
nate the transition of language services between the 
United States International Communications Agency 
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and the Freedom News Network in accordance with 
sections 6, 109, and 222(c). 
(b) CONTRACTING REPORT.—The Chief Executive 
Officer of the United States International Communica-
tions Agency shall annually submit to the appropriate con-
gressional committees a report on the Agency’s compliance 
with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (the ‘‘FAR’’) and 
the Anti-Deficiency Act, including a review of contracts 
awarded on a non-competitive basis, compliance with the 
FAR requirement for publicizing contract actions, the use 
of any personal service contracts without explicit statutory 
authority, and processes for contract oversight in compli-
ance with the FAR. 
(c) LISTENERSHIP REPORT.—The Chief Executive 
Officer of the United States International Communica-
tions Agency shall annually submit to the appropriate con-
gressional committees a report that details the trans-
mission capacities, market penetration, and audience 
listenership of all mediums of international communication 
deployed by the United States International Communica-
tions Agency, including a plan for how target audiences 
can be reached if the first medium of delivery is unavail-
able. 
(d) GAO REPORT.—Every five years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
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the United States shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report that reviews the effectiveness 
of content sharing between the United States Inter-
national Communications Agency and the Freedom News 
Network and makes recommendations on how content 
sharing can be improved. 
(e) LANGUAGE REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Ex-
ecutive Officer of the United States International Commu-
nications Agency and the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Freedom News Network shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a joint report detailing— 
(1) information outlining the criteria and anal-
ysis used to determine broadcast recipient countries 
and regions; and 
(2) an initial list of broadcast countries and re-
gions. 
Subtitle B—The Voice of America 
SEC. 121. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Voice of America has been an indispen-
sable element of United States foreign policy and 
public diplomacy efforts since 1942, and should re-
main the flagship brand of the United States Inter-
national Communications Agency; 
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(2) the Voice of America has been a reliable 
source of accurate, objective, and comprehensive 
news and related programming and content for the 
millions of people around the world who cannot ob-
tain such news and related programming and con-
tent from indigenous media outlets; 
(3) the Voice of America’s success over more 
than seven decades has created valuable brand iden-
tity and international recognition that justifies the 
maintenance of the Voice of America; 
(4) the Voice of America’s public diplomacy 
mission remains essential to broader United States 
Government efforts to communicate with foreign 
populations; and 
(5) despite its tremendous historical success, 
the Voice of America would benefit substantially 
from a recalibration of Federal international broad-
casting agencies and resources, which would provide 
the Voice of America with greater mission focus and 
flexibility in the deployment of news, programming, 
and content. 
SEC. 122. PRINCIPLES OF THE VOICE OF AMERICA. 
The Voice of America shall adhere to the following 
principles in the course of fulfilling its duties and respon-
sibilities: 
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(1) Serving as a consistently reliable and au-
thoritative source of news on the United States, its 
policies, its people, and the international develop-
ments that affect the United States. 
(2) Providing accurate, objective, and com-
prehensive information, with the understanding that 
these three values provide credibility among global 
news audiences. 
(3) Presenting the official policies of the United 
States, and related discussions and opinions about 
those policies, clearly and effectively. 
(4) Representing the whole of the United 
States, and shall accordingly work to produce pro-
gramming and content that presents a balanced and 
comprehensive projection of the diversity of thought 
and institutions of the United States. 
SEC. 123. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VOICE OF 
AMERICA. 
The Voice of America shall have the following duties 
and responsibilities: 
(1) Producing accurate, objective, and com-
prehensive news. 
(2) Producing content and related programming 
that accurately represents the diversity of thoughts 
and institutions of the United States as a whole and 
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is consistent with and presents the broad foreign 
policies of the United States. 
(3) Producing content and related programming 
that provides a comprehensive understanding of the 
impact of United States foreign assistance programs 
and United States international philanthropy, com-
plementing other media outlets. 
(4) Presenting the law and policies of the 
United States clearly and effectively. 
(5) Promoting the civil and responsible ex-
change of information and differences of opinion re-
garding policies, issues, and current events. 
(6) Making all of its produced news and related 
programming and content available to the Freedom 
News Network for use and distribution. 
(7) Producing or otherwise allowing editorials, 
commentary, and programming, in consultation with 
the Department of State, that present the official 
views of the United States Government and its offi-
cials. 
(8) Maximizing foreign national information ac-
cess through both the use of existing broadcasting 
tools and resources and the development and dis-
semination of circumvention technology. 
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(9) Providing training and technical support for 
independent indigenous media and journalist enter-
prises in order to facilitate or enhance independent 
media environments and outlets abroad. 
(10) Reaching identified foreign audiences in 
local languages and dialects when possible, particu-
larly when such audiences form a distinct ethnic, 
cultural, or religious group within a country critical 
to United States national security interests. 
(11) Being capable of providing a broadcasting 
surge capacity under circumstances where overseas 
disasters, crises, or other events require increased or 
heightened international public diplomacy engage-
ment. 
SEC. 124. LIMITATION ON VOICE OF AMERICA NEWS, PRO-
GRAMMING, AND CONTENT; EXCEPTION FOR 
BROADCASTING TO CUBA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), the Voice of America shall be limited to providing re-
porting in accordance with the principles specified in sec-
tion 122. Nothing in this section may preclude the Voice 
of America from broadcasting programming content pro-
duced by the Freedom News Network. 
(b) EXCEPTION
FOR BROADCASTING
TO CUBA.— 
Radio Marti and Television Marti, which constitute the 
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Office of Cuba Broadcasting, shall continue programming 
and content production consistent with the mission and 
activities as described in the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba 
Act (Public Law 98–111) and the Television Broadcasting 
to Cuba Act (Public Law 101–246), and continue existing 
within the Voice of America of the United States Inter-
national Communications Agency, established in section 
101. 
SEC. 125. DIRECTOR OF VOICE OF AMERICA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be a Director of 
the Voice of America, who shall be responsible for exe-
cuting the duties and responsibilities of the Voice of Amer-
ica described in subsection (b). 
(b) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director 
of the Voice of America shall, subject to the final approval 
of the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Inter-
national Communications Agency carry out the following 
duties and responsibilities: 
(1) Determine the organizational structure of, 
and personnel allocation or relocation within, the 
Voice of America, subject to section 105. 
(2) Make recommendations to the Chief Execu-
tive Officer of the United States International Com-
munications Agency regarding the production, devel-
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opment, and termination of Voice of America news 
programming and content. 
(3) Make recommendations to the Chief Execu-
tive Officer of the United States International Com-
munications Agency about the establishment, termi-
nation, prioritization, and adjustments of language 
services utilized by the Voice of America to reach its 
international audience. 
(4) Allocate funding and material resources 
under the jurisdiction of the Voice of America for 
the furtherance of the other duties and responsibil-
ities established under this subsection. 
(5) Oversee the daily operations of the Voice of 
America, including programming content. 
(c) APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS OF DIREC-
TOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The position of Director of 
the Voice of America shall be filled by a person who 
shall serve at the pleasure of the Chief Executive Of-
ficer of the United States International Communica-
tions Agency. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to be ap-
pointed Director of the Voice of America, a person 
shall have at least two of the following qualifications: 
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(A) Prior, extensive experience managing 
or operating a private-sector media or journalist 
enterprise. 
(B) Prior, extensive experience managing 
or operating a large organization. 
(C) Prior, extensive experience engaged in 
mass media or journalist program development, 
including the development of circumvention 
technologies. 
(D) Prior, extensive experience engaged in 
international journalism or other related activi-
ties, including the training of international jour-
nalists and the promotion of democratic institu-
tional reforms abroad. 
(3) COMPENSATION.—Any Director who is 
hired after the date of the enactment of this Act 
shall be entitled to receive compensation at a rate 
equal to the annual rate of basic pay for level III of 
the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 
5, United States Code. 
Subtitle C—General Provisions 
SEC. 131. FEDERAL AGENCY COORDINATION IN SUPPORT 
OF UNITED STATES PUBLIC DIPLOMACY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Board of the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Freedom 
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News Network shall conduct periodic, unclassified con-
sultations with the Department of State, the United 
States Agency for International Development, the Depart-
ment of Defense, and the Office of the Director of Na-
tional Intelligence, for the purpose of assessing the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Progress toward democratization, the devel-
opment of free and independent media outlets, and 
the free flow of information in countries that receive 
programming and content from the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Free-
dom News Network. 
(2) Foreign languages that have increased or 
decreased in strategic importance, and the factors 
supporting such assessments. 
(3) Any other international developments, in-
cluding developments with regional or country-spe-
cific significance, that might be of value in assisting 
the United States International Communications 
Agency and the Freedom News Network in the de-
velopment of their programming and content. 
(b) GUIDANCE.—The Board of the United States 
International Communications Agency shall use the un-
classified consultations required under subsection (a) as 
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guidance for its distribution and calibration of Federal re-
sources in support of United States public diplomacy. 
SEC. 132. FEDERAL AGENCY ASSISTANCE AND COORDINA-
TION WITH THE UNITED STATES INTER-
NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY AND 
THE 
FREEDOM 
NEWS 
NETWORK 
DURING 
INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST SURGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to a formal request from 
the Chair of the Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency, Federal agency heads shall as-
sist and coordinate with the Agency to facilitate a tem-
porary broadcasting surge or enhance transmission capac-
ity for such a temporary broadcasting surge for the Agen-
cy, the Freedom News Network, or both. 
(b) ACTIONS.—In accordance with subsection (a), 
Federal agency heads shall assist or coordinate with the 
United States International Communications Agency by— 
(1) supplying or facilitating access to, or use 
of— 
(A) 
United 
States 
Government-owned 
transmission capacity, including the use of 
transmission facilities, equipment, resources, 
and personnel; and 
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(B) other non-transmission-related United 
States Government-owned facilities, equipment, 
resources, and personnel; 
(2) communicating and coordinating with for-
eign host governments on behalf of, or in conjunc-
tion with, the Agency or the Freedom News Net-
work; 
(3) providing, or assisting in the obtaining of, 
in-country security services for the safety and pro-
tection of Agency or Freedom News Network per-
sonnel; and 
(4) providing or facilitating access to any other 
United States Government-owned resources. 
(c) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, neither Federal agency heads nor their agen-
cies shall receive any reimbursement or compensatory ap-
propriations for complying with implementing this section. 
SEC. 133. FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK RIGHT OF FIRST RE-
FUSAL IN INSTANCES OF FEDERAL DISPOSAL 
OF 
RADIO 
OR 
TELEVISION 
BROADCAST 
TRANSMISSION FACILITIES OR EQUIPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, it shall be the policy of the United States 
International Communications Agency to, in the event it 
intends to dispose of any radio or television broadcast 
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transmission facilities or equipment, provide the Freedom 
News Network with the right of first refusal with respect 
to the acquisition of such facilities and equipment. 
(b) TRANSFER AND DISPOSAL.—Pursuant to sub-
section (a)— 
(1) in the event the Freedom News Network is 
willing to accept the facilities and equipment re-
ferred to in such subsection, the United States 
International Communications Agency shall transfer 
to the Freedom News Network such facilities and 
equipment at no cost to the Freedom News Net-
work; or 
(2) in the event the Freedom News Network 
opts to not accept such facilities and equipment, the 
United States International Communications Agency 
may sell such facilities and equipment at market 
price, and retain any revenue from such sales. 
(c) RULES REGARDING CERTAIN FUNDS.—Pursuant 
to subsection (b)(2), any revenues that the United States 
International Communications Agency shall derive from 
such sales shall be used entirely for the purposes or re-
search, development, and deployment of innovative broad-
casting or circumvention technology. 
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SEC. 134. REPEAL OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL 
BROADCASTING ACT OF 1994. 
The United States International Broadcasting Act of 
1994 (22 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.; title III of Public Law 103– 
236) is repealed (and the items relating to title III in the 
table of contents of such Public Law are struck). 
SEC. 135. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This title shall take effect on the date that is 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
TITLE II—THE FREEDOM NEWS 
NETWORK 
SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that RFE/RL, Incor-
porated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broad-
casting Networks, Incorporated share a common mission 
with distinct geographic foci, and should therefore be 
merged into a single organization, with distinct marketing 
brands to provide the news and related programming and 
content in countries where free media are not established. 
Subtitle A—Consolidation of 
Existing Grantee Organizations 
SEC. 211. FORMATION OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK 
FROM EXISTING GRANTEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—When the conditions specified in 
section 110 are satisfied, the Freedom News Network, 
comprised of the consolidation of RFE/RL Incorporated, 
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Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Net-
works, Incorporated, shall exist to carry out all inter-
national broadcasting activities supported by the United 
States Government, in accordance with sections 212 and 
213. 
(b) MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING INDIVIDUAL 
GRANTEE BRANDS.—RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free 
Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incor-
porated shall remain brand names under which news and 
related programming and content may be disseminated by 
the Freedom News Network. Additional brands may be 
created as necessary. 
SEC. 212. MISSION OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK. 
The Freedom News Network established under sec-
tion 211 shall— 
(1) provide uncensored local and regional news 
and analysis to people in societies where a robust, 
indigenous, independent, and free media does not 
exist; 
(2) strengthen civil societies by promoting 
democratic values and promoting equality and the 
rights of the individual, including for marginalized 
groups, such as women and minorities; 
(3) help countries improve their indigenous ca-
pacity to enhance media professionalism and inde-
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pendence, and develop partnerships with local media 
outlets, as appropriate; and 
(4) promote access to uncensored sources of in-
formation, especially via the internet, and use all ef-
fective and efficient mediums of communication to 
reach target audiences. 
SEC. 213. STANDARDS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE FREEDOM 
NEWS NETWORK. 
The broadcasting of the Freedom News Network 
shall— 
(1) be consistent with the broad foreign policy 
objectives of the United States; 
(2) be consistent with the international tele-
communications policies and treaty obligations of the 
United States; 
(3) be conducted in accordance with the highest 
professional standards of broadcast journalism; 
(4) be based on reliable information about its 
potential audience; 
(5) be designed so as to effectively reach a sig-
nificant audience; and 
(6) prioritize programming to populations in 
countries without independent indigenous media out-
lets. 
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Subtitle B—Organization of the 
Freedom News Network 
SEC. 221. GOVERNANCE OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NET-
WORK. 
(a) BOARD OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK.— 
A board shall oversee the Freedom News Network and 
consist of nine individuals with a demonstrated back-
ground in media or the promotion of democracy and expe-
rience in measuring media impact. 
(b) COMPOSITION OF FIRST BOARD OF THE FREE-
DOM NEWS NETWORK.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Presidents of RFE/ 
RL Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East 
Broadcasting Networks shall— 
(1) identify, in consultation with the appro-
priate congressional committees, candidates for the 
first board of the Freedom News Network; 
(2) direct the appointment of board members; 
and 
(3) select the first chair of the board of the 
Freedom News Network. 
(c) CONGRESSIONAL
CONSULTATION
REGARDING 
THE FIRST BOARD
OF
THE FREEDOM NEWS NET-
WORK.—The individuals appointed pursuant to subsection 
(b) shall serve as members of the first board of the Free-
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dom News Network unless a joint resolution of disapproval 
is enacted. 
(d) OPERATIONS
OF
THE FIRST BOARD
OF
THE 
FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The board of the Freedom 
News Network shall have nine members charged 
with the sole responsibility to operate the Freedom 
News Network within the legal jurisdiction of its 
state of incorporation. The board of the Freedom 
New Network shall exercise due diligence, and exe-
cute its fiduciary duties to the corporation without 
conflicts of interest and consistent with section 212. 
At no time may the United States International 
Communications Agency add requirements to a 
grant agreement with the Freedom News Network 
that could be construed as inappropriate supervision, 
oversight, or management in accordance with section 
108(d). Nothing in this title may be construed to 
make the Freedom News Network an agency, estab-
lishment, or instrumentality of the United States 
Government, or to make the members of the board 
of Freedom News Network, or the officers or em-
ployees of Freedom News Network, officers of em-
ployees of the United States Government. 
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(2) BYLAWS.—The first board of the Freedom 
News Network shall write the bylaws of the organi-
zation. 
(3) OVERSIGHT.—The Freedom News Network 
shall be subject to the appropriate oversight proce-
dures of Congress. 
(4) TERM LIMITS.—The board members of the 
first board of the Freedom News Network may not 
serve more than a three-year term, and shall be re-
placed in accordance with the bylaws referred to in 
paragraph (2) and the succession process described 
in paragraph (5). 
(5) SUCCESSION
OF
BOARD
MEMBERS.—The 
board members of the first board of the Freedom 
News Network and all subsequent boards shall fill 
vacancies on the board due to death, resignation, re-
moval, or term expiration through an election proc-
ess described in the bylaws referred to in paragraph 
(2) and in accordance with the principle of a ‘‘self- 
replenishing’’ body. 
(6) SELECTION
OF
BOARD
MEMBERS.—The 
board members of the Freedom News Network may 
not be current employees or officers of RFE/RL In-
corporated, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East 
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Broadcasting Networks, or the United States Inter-
national Communications Agency. 
(e) COMPENSATION OF BOARD AND OFFICERS OF 
THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK.—Members of the board 
of the Freedom News Network may not receive any fee, 
salary, or remuneration of any kind for their service as 
members, except that such members may be reimbursed 
for reasonable expenses, such as board-related travel, in-
curred with approval of the board upon presentation of 
vouchers. No officers of the Freedom News Network, other 
than the Chief Executive Officer, shall be eligible to re-
ceive compensation at a rate in excess of the annual rate 
of basic pay for level I on the Executive Schedule under 
section 5312 of title 5, United States Code. 
(f) ABOLISHMENT
OF
EXISTING
BOARDS.—The 
boards of directors of RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free 
Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incor-
porated in existence on the day before the date of the en-
actment of this Act shall be abolished on the date of the 
first official meeting of the first board of the Freedom 
News Network. 
(g) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.—The Chief Execu-
tive Officer of the Freedom News Network shall serve at 
the pleasure of the board of the Freedom News Network, 
and be responsible for the day-to-day management and op-
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erations of the Freedom News Network, including the se-
lection of individuals for management positions, ensuring 
compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, laws, and 
circulars, providing strategic vision for the execution of its 
mission as specified in section 212, and carrying out such 
other responsibilities as set forth in the laws of the State 
of its incorporation. 
(h) PLAN FOR CONSOLIDATION OF EXISTING INDI-
VIDUAL GRANTEES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the first official meeting of the first 
board of the Freedom News Network, the chair of 
the board of the Freedom News Network shall sub-
mit a report to, and consult with, the appropriate 
congressional committees on the plan to consolidate 
RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the 
Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated 
into a single non-Federal grantee organization. 
(2) COMPONENTS.—The consolidation plan re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) shall include the following 
components: 
(A) The location and distribution of em-
ployees, including administrative, managerial, 
and technical staff, of the Freedom News Net-
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work that will be located within and outside the 
metropolitan area of Washington, DC. 
(B) An organizational chart identifying the 
managerial and supervisory lines of authority 
among all employees of the Freedom News Net-
work, including the members of the board and 
chair. 
(3) TIME
FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later 
than three years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the chair of the board of the Freedom 
News Network shall fully implement the consolida-
tion plan referred to in paragraph (1) after consulta-
tion with the appropriate congressional committees. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than five years after 
the date on which initial funding is provided for the 
purpose of operating the Freedom News Network, 
the chair of the board of the Freedom News Net-
work shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report that details the following: 
(A) Whether the Freedom News Network 
is technically sound and cost-effective. 
(B) Whether the Freedom News Network 
consistently meets the standards for quality and 
impact established by this title. 
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(C) Whether the Freedom News Network 
is receiving a sufficient audience to warrant its 
continued operation. 
(D) The extent to which the Freedom 
News Network’s programming and content is 
already being received by the target audience 
from other credible indigenous or external 
sources. 
(E) The extent to which the broad foreign 
policy and national security interests of the 
United States are being served by maintaining 
operations of the Freedom News Network. 
SEC. 222. BUDGET OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The annual budget of the Free-
dom News Network shall consist of the following: 
(1) A grant described in section 110, consisting 
of the total grants to RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio 
Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Net-
works, Incorporated before the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(2) Any grants or transfers from other Federal 
agencies. 
(3) Other funds described in subsection (b). 
(b) OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING.—The Freedom 
News Network may, to the extent authorized by its board 
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and in accordance with applicable laws and the mission 
of the Freedom News Network under section 212 and eli-
gible broadcast areas under section 6, collect and utilize 
non-Federal funds, except that the Freedom News Net-
work may not accept funds from the following: 
(1) Any foreign governments or foreign govern-
ment officials. 
(2) Any agents, representatives, or surrogates 
of any foreign government or foreign government of-
ficial. 
(3) Any foreign-owned corporations or any sub-
sidiaries of any foreign-owned corporation, regard-
less of whether such subsidiary is United States- 
owned. 
(4) Any foreign national or individual who is 
not either a citizen or a legal permanent resident of 
the United States. 
(c) ANNUAL STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE FREEDOM 
NEWS NETWORK.—The Freedom News Network shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees and 
the United States International Communications Agency 
an annual strategic plan to satisfy the requirements speci-
fied in section 110. Each such strategic plan shall outline 
the following: 
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(1) The strategic goals and objectives of the 
Freedom News Network for the upcoming fiscal 
year. 
(2) The alignment of the Freedom News Net-
work’s resources with the strategic goals and objec-
tives referred to in paragraph (1). 
(3) Clear benchmarks that establish the 
progress made towards achieving the strategic goals 
and objectives referred to in paragraph (1). 
(4) A plan to monitor and evaluate the success 
of the Freedom News Network’s broadcasting ef-
forts. 
(5) A reflective analysis on the activities on the 
past fiscal year. 
(6) Any changes to facility leases, contracts, or 
ownership that would result in the relocation of staff 
or personnel. 
(7) Any changes to broadcast languages, includ-
ing the transfer of language services to the Freedom 
News Network from the United States International 
Communications Agency, or to an organization other 
than the Freedom New Network. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that administrative and managerial costs for oper-
ation of the Freedom News Network should be kept to 
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a minimum and, to the maximum extent feasible, should 
not exceed the costs that would have been incurred if 
RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle 
East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated had been oper-
ated as independent grantees or as a Federal entity within 
the Voice of America. 
SEC. 223. ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT AGEN-
CIES. 
(a) SURPLUS PROPERTIES.—In order to assist the 
Freedom News Network in carrying out the provisions of 
this title, any agency or instrumentality of the United 
States may sell, loan, lease, or grant property (including 
interests therein) to the Freedom News Network as nec-
essary. 
(b) FACILITIES AND BROADCASTING INFRASTRUC-
TURE.—The United States International Communications 
Agency and the Freedom News Network shall negotiate 
an International Cooperative Administrative Support 
Service (ICASS) agreement or memorandum of under-
standing permitting the continued use of technological in-
frastructure for broadcasting and information dissemina-
tion, except that the Freedom News Network may choose 
to procure such services through negotiated contracts with 
private-sector providers. 
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SEC. 224. REPORTS BY THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR 
GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE; 
AUDITS BY GAO. 
(a) IG REPORTS.—The Inspector General of the De-
partment of State shall, as appropriate, submit to the ap-
propriate congressional committees reports on manage-
ment practices of the Freedom News Network, including 
financial reports on unobligated balances. 
(b) GAO AUDITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Financial transactions of the 
Freedom News Network, as such relate to functions 
carried out under this Act, may be audited by the 
Government Accountability Office in accordance with 
such principles and procedures and under such rules 
and regulations as may be prescribed by the Comp-
troller General of the United States. Any such audit 
shall be conducted at the place or places where ac-
counts of the Freedom News Network are normally 
kept. 
(2) ACCESS.—Representatives of the Govern-
ment Accountability Office shall have access to all 
books, accounts, records, reports, files, papers, and 
property belonging to or in use by the Freedom 
News Network pertaining to the financial trans-
actions referred to in paragraph (1) and necessary 
to facilitate an audit in accordance with such para-
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