Sec. 221. Governance of the Freedom News Network
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/bill/114/hr/2323/ih/section-221A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
A board shall oversee the Freedom News Network and consist of nine individuals with a demonstrated background in media or the promotion of democracy and experience in measuring media impact. 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— identify, in consultation with the appropriate congressional committees, candidates for the first board of the Freedom News Network; direct the appointment of board members; and select the first chair of the board of the Freedom News Network. The individuals appointed pursuant to subsection
(b)shall serve as members of the first board of the Freedom News Network unless a joint resolution of disapproval is enacted. 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 execute 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, establishment, or instrumentality of the United States Government, or to make the members of the board of Freedom News Network, or the officers or employees of Freedom News Network, officers of employees of the United States Government. The first board of the Freedom News Network shall write the bylaws of the organization. The Freedom News Network shall be subject to the appropriate oversight procedures of Congress. The board members of the first board of the Freedom News Network may not serve more than a three-year term, and shall be replaced in accordance with the bylaws referred to in paragraph
(2)and the succession process described in paragraph (5). 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, removal, or term expiration through an election process described in the bylaws referred to in paragraph
(2)and in accordance with the principle of a self-replenishing body. The board members of the Freedom News Network may not be current employees or officers of RFE/RL Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, or the United States International Communications Agency. 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, incurred 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 receive 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. The boards of directors of RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act shall be abolished on the date of the first official meeting of the first board of the Freedom News Network. The Chief Executive 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 operations of the Freedom News Network, including the selection 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. 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 submit 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. The consolidation plan referred to in paragraph
(1)shall include the following components: The location and distribution of employees, including administrative, managerial, and technical staff, of the Freedom News Network that will be located within and outside the metropolitan area of Washington, D.C. An organizational chart identifying the managerial and supervisory lines of authority among all employees of the Freedom News Network, including the members of the board and chair. 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 consolidation plan referred to in paragraph
(1)after consultation with the appropriate congressional committees. 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 Network shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that details the following: Whether the Freedom News Network is technically sound and cost-effective. Whether the Freedom News Network consistently meets the standards for quality and impact established by this title. Whether the Freedom News Network is receiving a sufficient audience to warrant its continued operation. 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. 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.