Sec. 5. Plan to promote reciprocal access for United States news and media organizations
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The President shall establish a plan for negotiating access for United States news and media companies and their employees globally and work to enhance reciprocity given to news and media companies operating in the United States. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that summarizes the plan required under paragraph (1). Congress finds the following: United States news and media organizations, including United States-based media organizations, and information portals are blocked or censored by certain foreign governments, while the United States market remains open to websites of foreign news and media organizations and information portals, including state-owned propaganda organizations.
The stark lack of reciprocity in market access for news and media organizations and country access for journalists and media personnel— limits constructive contacts between the United States and the world; and allows some foreign governments unbalanced influence over their people’s views of the United States and perceptions in the United States of their policies and programs. Foreign governments with a sizable media and information footprint in the United States have a distinct interest in maintaining such footprint.
It is the sense of Congress that, in the interest of increasing reciprocal access for United States journalists and news and media organizations and expanding press freedoms globally, the President should proactively pursue bilateral agreements with governments referred to in paragraph
(1)to ensure reciprocal access by both countries.