123STA T . 2 5 53 PUBLIC LA W 111 –84—O CT. 28 , 2 0 0 9Subti t leD—VOICEAc t SEC.126 1.S HORT T I T L E. This s ubt it lemay be c ite d as the ‘ ‘ V ictims ofIr a n ian C ensorshi pA ct ’ ’or the ‘‘V O IC E Act’’ . SEC. 1262. AU THORI Z ATIO N O F A P PROPRIATIONS. ( a ) I NTER N A T IO NA LB ROA DC A S TIN G O P ERATIONS FU ND. — In addi - tion to amounts other w ise authori z ed for the Broadcastin g Board of G o v ernors’ International Broadcasting Operations Fund , there is authorized to be appropriated $15 , 0 00,000 to e x pand Farsi lan- guage programming and to provide for the dissemination of accurate and independent information to the Iranian people through radio, television, Internet, cellular telephone, short message service, and other communications. (b) BROADCASTING CAPITAL I M PRO V EMENTS FUND.—In addition to amounts otherwise authorized for the Broadcasting Board of Governors’ Broadcasting Capital Improvements Fund, there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 to expand transmissions of Farsi language programs to Iran. (c) U SEO F AMOUNTS.—In pursuit of the ob j ectives described in subsections (a) and (b), amounts in the International Broad- casting Operations Fund and the Capital Improvements Fund may be used to— (1) develop additional transmission capability for R adio Farda and the P ersian N ews Networ k to counter ongoing efforts to jam transmissions, including through additional shortwave and medium wave transmissions, satellite, and Internet mecha- nisms
( 2 ) develop additional proxy server capability and anti- censorship software to counter efforts to block Radio Farda and Persian News Network W eb sites; ( 3 ) develop technologies to counter efforts to block SM S text message exchange over cellular phone networks; ( 4 ) expand program coverage and analysis by Radio Farda and the Persian News Network, including the development of broadcast platforms and programs, on the television, radio and Internet, for enhanced interactivity with and among the people of Iran; (5) hire, on a permanent or short-term basis, additional staff for Radio Farda and the Persian News Network; and ( 6 ) develop additional Internet-based, Farsi-language tele- vision programming, including a Farsi-language, Internet-based news channel. SEC. 126 3 . IRANIAN ELECTRONIC E D UCATION , E X CHAN G E, AND M EDIA FUND. (a) ESTA B LIS H MENT.—There is established in the Treasury of the United States the Iranian Electronic Education, Exchange, and Media Fund (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Fund’’), consisting of amounts appropriated to the Fund pursuant to subsection (f). (b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of State. (c) OB J ECTIVE.—The objective of the Fund shall be to support the development of technologies, including Internet Web sites, that will aid the ability of the Iranian people to— (1) gain access to and share information; 2 2 USC6 2 04note. 22 USC 6204 note. 22 USC 620 1 note. Vic ti ms o fIra nian Censors h i pA ct.
