International Broadcasting Independent Grantee Organizations

 

To promote freedom and democracy and enhance understanding through multimedia communication of accurate, objective, and balanced news, information, and other programming about America and the world to audiences overseas.

Active 90.500 U.S. Agency For Global Media B - Project Grants; Z - Salaries and Expenses Fiscal Year 2010 Each of the three grantee organizations serves a unique geographic region. Their accomplishments in each region are described below: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL): As of March 2010, RFE/RL broadcasts in 28 languages to Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe; Russia; the Caucasus; Central Asia; Iraq; Iran; and Afghanistan. Eighteen of RFE/RL's broadcast languages almost two-thirds of the total are directed to countries or regions where the majority populations are Muslim. Each week, RFE/RL broadcasts more than 1,000 hours of radio programming and nearly five hours of television from its operations center in Prague and from its 20 bureaus. During fiscal year 2009, RFE/RL's 20 Internet websites reached a monthly average of over 2.1 million unique visitors, logged nearly 4 million requests to listen to radio content online, and garnered an average of 15.1 million page views each month reflecting increases of 13 percent, 18 percent, and 21 percent respectively over the previous year. RFE/RL's proximity to its broadcast regions facilitates production of relevant, locally-oriented programming in a cost-efficient manner. As of July 2009, RFE/RL programs were available on 238 local AM, FM, UKV, and TV affiliates across its broadcast region. RFE/RL is increasing delivery of its information products on television, the Internet, and other emerging media in order to attract new audiences and to reach closed and semi-closed societies. Radio Free Asia (RFA): RFA broadcasts in nine languages and four dialects to China (including Tibet and the Xinjiang Region of Western China), Burma, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam, providing unbiased news to Asian countries that do not tolerate a free press, and filling the news gap created by State-controlled media. Through its network of reporters across Asia and its seven bureaus/offices, RFA frequently leads the world in breaking news and continues to cover stories not reported by other media. As a multi-media news organization, RFA’s broadcasters focus on developing vibrant, relevant content that meets the demands of its radio audiences and drives visitors to its websites. RFA material can be downloaded to mobile devices, repackaged and republished to circumvent ever increasing censorship, or shared b word-of-mouth. Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN): MBN is a multimedia broadcasting organization. Its brands currently include Alhurra, Radio Sawa, and Afia Darfur. Alhurra operates three, 24/7 Arabic-language news and information television channels – Alhurra, Alhurra-Iraq, and Alhurra Europe. Radio Sawa broadcasts 24/7 on seven programming streams in the Middle East, and utilizes Web sites as sources of up-to-the-minute news. MBN broadcasts from its headquarters in Northern Virginia, with production outlets in Baghdad, Cairo, Dubai, Beirut, and Jerusalem, and correspondents in the Middle East and around the world. Alhurra is distributed digitally via Arabsat and Nilesat, the same satellites used by all major Middle Eastern channels, as well as terrestrial transmitters in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Tikrit and Al Hilla. Alhurra Europe is distributed on Eutelsat Hotbird 8. Alhurra is also streamed on its news and information website at www.alhurra.com. Radio Sawa can be heard throughout the Middle East through FM and medium wave (AM) transmissions on seven streams including: (1) Iraq (FM and AM); (2) Jordan and the West Bank (FM); (3) the Gulf (FM and AM); (4) Egypt and the Levant (AM); (5) Morocco (FM); (6) Sudan, Djibouti and Yemen (FM and AM); and (7) Lebanon and Syria (FM). Radio Sawa is also streamed on its news and information Web site www.radiosawa.com.
Fiscal Year 2009 Each of the three grantee organizations serves a unique geographic region. Their accomplishments in each region are described below: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL): As of December 2009, RFE/RL broadcasts in 28 languages to Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe; Russia; the Caucasus; Central Asia; Iraq; Iran; and Afghanistan. Eighteen of RFE/RL's broadcast languages almost two-thirds of the total are directed to countries or regions where the majority populations are Muslim. Each week, RFE/RL broadcasts more than 1,000 hours of radio programming and nearly five hours of television from its operations center in Prague and from its 19 bureaus. During fiscal year 2009, RFE/RL's 20 Internet websites reached a monthly average of over 2.1 million unique visitors, logged nearly 4 million requests to listen to radio content online, and garnered an average of 15.1 million page views each month reflecting increases of 13 percent, 18 percent, and 21 percent respectively over the previous year. RFE/RL's proximity to its broadcast regions facilitates production of relevant, locally-oriented programming in a cost-efficient manner. As of July 2009, RFE/RL programs were available on 238 local AM, FM, UKV, and TV affiliates across its broadcast region. RFE/RL is increasing delivery of its information products on television, the Internet, and other emerging media in order to attract new audiences and to reach closed and semi-closed societies. Radio Free Asia (RFA): RFA broadcasts in nine languages and four dialects to China (including Tibet and the Xinjiang Region of Western China), Burma, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam, providing unbiased news to Asian countries that do not tolerate a free press, and filling the news gap created by State-controlled media. Through its network of reporters across Asia and its seven bureaus/offices, RFA frequently leads the world in breaking news and continues to cover stories not reported by other media. As a multi-media news organization, RFA’s broadcasters focus on developing vibrant, relevant content that meets the demands of its radio audiences and drives visitors to its websites. RFA material can be downloaded to mobile devices, repackaged and republished to circumvent ever increasing censorship, or shared b word-of-mouth. Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN): MBN is a multimedia broadcasting organization. Its brands currently include Alhurra, Radio Sawa, and Afia Darfur. Alhurra operates three, 24/7 Arabic-language news and information television channels – Alhurra, Alhurra-Iraq, and Alhurra Europe. Radio Sawa broadcasts 24/7 on seven programming streams in the Middle East, and utilizes Web sites as sources of up-to-the-minute news. MBN broadcasts from its headquarters in Northern Virginia, with production outlets in Baghdad, Cairo, Dubai, Beirut, and Jerusalem, and correspondents in the Middle East and around the world. Alhurra is distributed digitally via Arabsat and Nilesat, the same satellites used by all major Middle Eastern channels, as well as terrestrial transmitters in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Tikrit and Al Hilla. Alhurra Europe is distributed on Eutelsat Hotbird 8. Alhurra is also streamed on its news and information website at www.alhurra.com. Radio Sawa can be heard throughout the Middle East through FM and medium wave (AM) transmissions on seven streams including: (1) Iraq (FM and AM); (2) Jordan and the West Bank (FM); (3) the Gulf (FM and AM); (4) Egypt and the Levant (AM); (5) Morocco (FM); (6) Sudan, Djibouti and Yemen (FM and AM); and (7) Lebanon and Syria (FM). Radio Sawa is also streamed on its news and information Web site www.radiosawa.com. See Projection
Fiscal Year 2011 See FY 2010 description of accomplishments Public Laws: 103-236 as amended, Public Law 103-236, 22 U.S.C. 6201 Grants are currently only available to three existing nonprofit organizations, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks as identified in authorizing or appropriations language. Grants are not available to State or local governments or the general public. Direct beneficiaries of these grants are three nonprofit entities based and incorporated in the United States. The grants allow these three United States-based entities to provide an objective and balanced alternative source of news, opinion, and information related to the U.S. and U.S. policy to overseas populations. Secondary beneficiaries of these grants are overseas listeners who benefit from an alternative news source that provides objective information. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The grantees submit resource requirements to the BBG for inclusion in the development of the BBG budget estimates. The BBG consolidates this data into the BBG budget submission to OMB and Congress. Upon Congressional approval of the current year appropriation, the grantees submit an annual financial plan described in Reports section. At the beginning of the fiscal year, the BBG and the grantee sign an annual grant agreement which thereby grants funds for the planning and operating expenses related to international broadcasting for each grantee. BBG and the grantees also sign grant amendments prepared throughout the fiscal year. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Funding supports the operations of the grantee organizations. The annual appropriation process provides funds and restrictions on fund usage would be identified in the appropriation and authorization law, and in yearly grant agreements each grantee signs. Performance Reports: The Grantees are required to perform yearly program reviews on their language and support services. In addition, the Board conducts its own annual Language Service Review to aid in determining overall resource allocation. These reviews require services to report on a wide variety of performance measures, including: audience, credibility, weekly reach, budget information, signal quality, affiliate information, etc. The Grantees are required to undergo an annual audit. All reports described above and business documents such as bid solicitations, evidence of shipment for commodities procured in the United States and procurement and service contracts, shall be maintained for a period of 3 years from the date of the initial submission in a manner that will permit verification of the grantee's compliance with its representations, warranties, and obligations contained in this agreement. If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until all open matters have been resolved. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The grantees receive yearly grants and must spend the money in the year awarded unless given permission by the Board of Governors to carry money into the following fiscal year. The grantees are part of the Agency's budget submission, and their yearly funding level is set by Congress and included in the Agency's appropriation. Grantees are paid on a monthly basis through wire transfer. None. Karen Larson,
330 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20237 US
klarson@bbg.gov
Phone: (202) 321-4194. http://www.bbg.gov 95-0206-0-1-154 (Salaries and Expenses) FY 10 est $245,741,000.00; FY 09$238,674,000.00; FY 11 est $251,423,000.00; - Breakout of Funding is as follows: RFE/RL: FY 2009-$92,336; FY 2010-$95,912; FY 2011-$95,557 RFA: FY 2009-$35,919; FY 2010-$37,228; FY 2011-$38,404 MBN: FY 2009-$110,419; FY 2010-$112,601; FY 2011-$117,462 (in thousands) FY 2009 Range: $35,919 to $110,419; Average $79,558 FY 2010 Range: $37,228 to $112,601; Average $81,914 FY 2011 Range: $38,404 to $117,462; Average $83,808 (in thousands) Not applicable. Not applicable.