Radio Free Asia: Background, Funding, and Policy Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised July 21, 1999 |
| Report Number |
97-52 |
| Authors |
Susan B. Epstein, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
In response to some Asian countries' human rights violations and to promote democracy in
countries
such as China and North Korea, the Administration and the 103rd Congress agreed that the United
States should increase broadcasting to this part of the world. The International Broadcasting Act of
1994, title III of the Foreign Relations Authorizations Act of 1994/95 ( P.L. 103-236 ), created the
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) under the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) and authorized
the Board to make grants available to conduct surrogate broadcasting services
(1) (referred to as Radio
Free Asia or RFA) to the People's Republic of China, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, Tibet,
and Vietnam.
In 1997, lawmakers who opposed Beijing sought ways of promoting democracy and human
rights in China other than through denying normal trade relation (NTR) trade benefits. One
suggestion was to dramatically increase funds to expand Radio Free Asia and Voice of America
(VOA) broadcasting into China. The Radio Free Asia Act of 1998 (title XXXIX, P.L. 105-261 )
authorized $22 million for broadcasting in FY1999, plus $8 million for one-time capital costs.
Congress appropriated $22 million in FY1999 for RFA to expand its broadcasting to 24 hours a day
into China and continue broadcasting into five other Asian target countries. For FY2000, the
President's budget request for RFA and the Senate appropriation ( S. 1217 ) are $23
million. On October 1, 1999, as a result of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of
1998, the BBG will become an independent agency in order to maintain its journalistic integrity while
the rest of USIA will merge into the Department of State.
1. Â U.S. surrogate broadcasting provides independent,
uncensored, and accurate news and information of events
in the targeted country (often a closed society), as well as cultural programs of that country.
Surrogate
broadcasting includes Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc. In contrast, general broadcasting,
carried out
by Voice of America, presents a reliable source of international news, American policies and culture
to listeners
overseas.
