Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 1.djvu/457

 PUBLIC LAW 99-93—AUG. 16, 1985

99 STAT. 435

SEC. 304. MANAGEMENT OF RFE/RL, INCORPORATED.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— (1) RFE/RL, Incorporated, is essential to the continued and effective furtherance of the open flow of information and ideas throughout Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union; (2) effective communication of information and ideas can only be accomplished if the long-term credibility of RFE/RL, Incorporated, operating in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism, is maintained; (3) the performance of RFE/RL, Incorporated, is dependent on proper management, an objective approach to news, quality programming, and effective oversight; (4) the Board for International Broadcasting, in addition to making grants, is responsible for overseeing broadcast quality and effectiveness and for overseeing effective utilization of Federal funds; (5) RFE/RL, Incorporated, is responsible for its own management and for daily broadcasts into Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union; (6) the Board for International Broadcasting and RFE/RL, Incorporated, must remain very distinct and different institutions if they adhere to the Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee on Conference relating to the Board of International Broadcasting Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1982 and 1983; 22 USC 2871 (7) the President of RFE/RL, Incorporated, who is responsible ^°^for the proper management and supervision of the daily operations of the radios, should devote the necessary resources and personnel to strengthen both the oversight and the quality of programming; (8) the Board for International Broadcasting, in an effort to preserve or enhance its ability to properly oversee the operations of RFE/RL, Incorporated, must avoid even the appearance of involvement in daily operational decisions and management of RFE/RL, Incorporated; and (9) the absence of satisfactory pre-broadcast review and the lack of sufficient records of actions taken to explain or remedy program problems identified through post-broadcast review, may endanger the long-term credibility of RFE/RL, Incorporated. (b) ACTIONS TO B E TAKEN BY RFE/RL.—It is the sense of the Congress that RFE/RL, Incorporated, should— (1) strengthen existing broadcast control procedures and postbroadcast program analysis; and (2) improve its personnel management system to include such things as better documentation of internal decisionmaking and communication, personnel review, and job description. (c) ACTIONS TO B E TAKEN BY BIB.—It is the sense of the Congress that the Board for International Broadcasting should— (1) periodically review and update the Program Policy Guidelines of RFE/RL, Incorporated, with the goal of maintaining their clarity and responsiveness; and (2) ensure that the distinctions between the Board for International Broadcasting and RFE/RL, Incorporated, remain clear and that these two entities continue to operate within the framework established by law.

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