,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ffba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #bd1 #bjbj,mr4 ,mc,caul 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,engel1 ,mr4 ,curtis1 and ,mr4 ,malinowski7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,united ,states ,international ,broadcasting ,act of #aiid to authorize the ,open ,technology ,fund of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,open ,technology ,fund ,authorization ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the political1 economic1 and social benefits of the internet are important to advancing democracy and freedom throughout the world4 7#b7 ,authoritarian governments are investing billions of dollars each year to create1 maintain1 and expand repressive internet censorship and surveillance systems to limit free association1 control access to information1 and prevent citizens from exercising their rights to free speech4 7#c7 ,over two-thirds of the world's population lives in a country where the internet is restricted1 and governments shut down the internet over #bjj times each year4 7#d7 ,internet censorship and surveillance technology is being exported rapidly around the world1 particularly by the ,chinese ,government1 enabling widespread abuses by authoritarian governments4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that it is in the interest of the ,united ,states to promote global internet freedom by countering internet censorship and repressive surveillance and protect the internet as a platform for the free exchange of ideas1 promotion of human rights and democracy1 and advancement of a free press and to support efforts that prevent the deliberate misuse of the internet to repress individuals from exercising their rights to free speech and association1 including countering the use of such technologies by authoritarian regimes4 #d4 ,establishment of the ,open ,technology ,fund 7a7 ,in general ,the ,united ,states ,international ,broadcasting ,act of #aiid 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fbja et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #cji the following new section3 #cji;,a4 ,open ,technology ,fund 7a7 ,authority 7#a7 ,in general ,grants authorized under section #cje shall be available to make annual grants for the purpose of promoting1 consistent with ,united ,states law1 unrestricted access to uncensored sources of information via the internet to enable journalists1 including journalists employed by or affiliated with the ,voice of ,america1 ,radio ,free ,europe_/,radio ,liberty1 ,radio ,free ,asia1 the ,middle ,east ,broadcasting ,networks1 the ,office of ,cuba ,broadcasting1 or any entity funded by or partnering with the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media1 to create and disseminate1 and for their audiences to receive1 news and information consistent with the purposes1 standards1 and principles specified in sections #cjb and #cjc4 7#b7 ,establishment ,there is established a grantee entity to be known as the ,open ,technology ,fund1 which shall carry out the provisions of this section4 7b7 ,functions of the grantee ,in furtherance of the mission set forth in subsection 7a71 the ,open ,technology ,fund shall seek to advance freedom of the press and unrestricted access to the internet in repressive environments oversees1 and shall-- 7#a7 research1 develop1 implement1 and maintain-- 7,a7 technologies that circumvent techniques used by authoritarian governments1 nonstate actors1 and others to block or censor access to the internet1 including circumvention tools that bypass internet blocking1 filtering1 and other censorship techniques used to limit or block legitimate access to content and information2 and 7,b7 secure communication tools and other forms of privacy and security technology that facilitate the creation and distribution of news and enable audiences to access media content on censored websites2 7#b7 advance internet freedom by supporting private and public sector research1 development1 implementation1 and maintenance of technologies that provide secure and uncensored access to the internet to counter attempts by authoritarian governments1 nonstate actors1 and others to improperly restrict freedom online2 7#c7 research and analyze emerging technical threats and develop innovative solutions through collaboration with the private and public sectors to maintain the technological advantage of the ,united ,states ,government over authoritarian governments1 nonstate actors1 and others2 7#d7 develop1 acquire1 and distribute requisite internet freedom technologies and techniques for the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media1 including as set forth in paragraph 7#a71 and digital security interventions1 to fully enable the creation and distribution of digital content between and to all users and regional audiences2 7#e7 prioritize programs for countries the governments of which restrict freedom of expression on the internet1 and that are important to the national interest of the ,united ,states1 and are consistent with section #gjej7;b77#b77;,c7 of the ,further ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbj 7,public ,law #aaf-id72 and 7#f7 carry out any other effort consistent with the purposes of this ,act or press freedom overseas if requested or approved by the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media4 7c7 ,methodology ,in carrying out subsection 7b71 the ,open ,technology ,fund shall-- 7#a7 support fully open-source tools1 code1 and components1 to the extent practicable1 to ensure such supported tools and technologies are as secure1 transparent1 and accessible as possible1 and require that any such tools1 components1 code1 or technology supported by the ,open ,technology ,fund remain fully open-source1 to the extent practicable2 7#b7 support technologies that undergo comprehensive security audits to ensure that such technologies are secure and have not been compromised in a manner detrimental to the interest of the ,united ,states or to individuals and organizations benefitting from programs supported by the ,open ,technology ,fund2 7#c7 review and update periodically as necessary security auditing procedures used by the ,open ,technology ,fund to reflect current industry security standards2 7#d7 establish safeguards to mitigate the use of such supported technologies for illicit purposes2 7#e7 solicit project proposals through an open1 transparent1 and competitive application process to attract innovative applications and reduce barriers to entry2 7#f7 seek input from technical1 regional1 and subject matter experts from a wide range of relevant disciplines1 to review1 provide feedback1 and evaluate proposals to ensure the most competitive projects are funded2 7#g7 implement an independent review process1 through which proposals are reviewed by such experts to ensure the highest degree of technical review and due diligence2 7#h7 maximize cooperation with the public and private sectors1 as well as foreign allies and partner countries1 to maximize efficiencies and eliminate duplication of efforts2 and 7#i7 utilize any other methodology approved by the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media in furtherance of the mission of the ,open ,technology ,fund4 7d7 ,grant agreement ,any grant agreement with or grants made to the ,open ,technology ,fund under this section shall be subject to the following limitations and restrictions3 7#a7 ,the headquarters of the ,open ,technology ,fund and its senior administrative and managerial staff shall be located in a location which ensures economy1 operational effectiveness1 and accountability to the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media4 7#b7 ,grants awarded under this section shall be made pursuant to a grant agreement which requires that grant funds be used only for activities consistent with this section1 and that failure to comply with such requirements shall permit the grant to be terminated without fiscal obligation to the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,any grant agreement under this section shall require that any contract entered into by the ,open ,technology ,fund shall specify that all obligations are assumed by the grantee and not by the ,united ,states ,government4 7#d7 ,any grant agreement under this section shall require that any lease agreements entered into by the ,open ,technology ,fund shall be1 to the maximum extent possible1 assignable to the ,united ,states ,government4 7#e7 ,administrative and managerial costs for operation of the ,open ,technology ,fund should be kept to a minimum and1 to the maximum extent feasible1 should not exceed the costs that would have been incurred if the ,open ,technology ,fund had been operated as a ,federal entity rather than as a grantee4 7#f7 ,grant funds may not be used for any activity the purpose of which is influencing the passage or defeat of legislation considered by ,congress4 7e7 ,relationship to the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,open ,technology ,fund shall be subject to the same oversight and governance by the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media as other grantees of the ,agency as set forth in section #cje4 7#b7 ,assistance ,the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media1 its broadcast entities1 and the ,open ,technology ,fund should render assistance to each other as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section or any other provision of this ,act4 7#c7 ,not a ,federal agency or instrumentality ,nothing in this section may be construed to make the ,open ,technology ,fund a ,federal agency or instrumentality4 7#d7 ,detailees ,under the ,intergovernmental ,personnel ,act1 employees of a grantee of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media may be detailed to the ,agency1 and ,federal employees may be detailed to a grantee of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media4 7f7 ,relationship to other ,united ,states ,government-,funded internet freedom programs ,the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media shall ensure that internet freedom research and development projects of the ,open ,technology ,fund are coordinated with internet freedom programs of the ,department of ,state and other relevant ,united ,states ,government departments1 in order to share information and best-practices relating to the implementation of subsections 7b7 and 7c74 7g7 ,reporting requirements 7#a7 ,annual report ,the ,open ,technology ,fund shall highlight1 in its annual report1 internet freedom activities1 including a comprehensive assessment of the ,open ,technology ,fund's activities relating to the implementation of subsections 7b7 and 7c74 ,each such report shall include the following3 7,a7 ,an assessment of the current state of global internet freedom1 including trends in censorship and surveillance technologies and internet shutdowns1 and the threats such pose to journalists1 citizens1 and human rights and civil-society organizations4 7,b7 ,a description of the technology projects supported by the ,open ,technology ,fund and the associated impact of such projects in the prior year1 including the countries and regions in which such technologies were deployed1 and any associated metrics indicating audience usage of such technologies1 as well as future-year technology project initiatives4 7#b7 ,assessment of the effectiveness of the ,open ,technology ,fund ,not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,state and the ,foreign ,service shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the following3 7,a7 ,whether the ,open ,technology ,fund is technically sound and cost effective4 7,b7 ,whether the ,open ,technology ,fund is satisfying the requirements of this section4 7,c7 ,the extent to which the interests of the ,united ,states are being served by maintaining the work of the ,open ,technology ,fund4 7h7 ,audit authorities 7#a7 ,in general ,financial transactions of the ,open ,technology ,fund1 as such relate to functions carried out under this section1 may be audited by the ,government ,accountability ,office in accordance with such principles and procedures and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states4 ,any such audit shall be conducted at the place or places at which accounts of the ,open ,technology ,fund are normally kept4 7#b7 ,access by ,,gao ,the ,government ,accountability ,office shall have access to all books1 accounts1 records1 reports1 files1 papers1 and property belonging to or in use by the ,open ,technology ,fund pertaining to financial transactions as may be necessary to facilitate an audit4 ,the ,government ,accountability ,office shall be afforded full facilities for verifying transactions with any assets held by depositories1 fiscal agents1 and custodians4 ,all such books1 accounts1 records1 reports1 files1 papers1 and property of the ,open ,technology ,fund shall remain in the possession and custody of the ,open ,technology ,fund4 7#c7 ,exercise of authorities ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,state and the ,foreign ,service is authorized to exercise the authorities of the ,inspector ,general ,act of #aigh with respect to the ,open ,technology ,fund4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,the ,united ,states ,international ,broadcasting ,act of #aiid is amended by-- 7#a7 in section #cjd7;d7 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fbjc7;d771 by inserting the ,open ,technology ,fund1 before the ,middle ,east ,broadcasting ,networks2 7#b7 in sections #cje and #caj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fbjd and #fbji71 by inserting the ,open ,technology ,fund1 before or the ,middle ,east ,broadcasting ,networks each place such term appears2 and 7#c7 in section #caj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fbji71 by inserting the ,open ,technology ,fund1 before and the ,middle ,east ,broadcasting ,networks each place such term appears4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for the ,open ,technology ,fund #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba and #be1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbb to carry out section #cji;,a of the ,united ,states ,international ,broadcasting ,act of #aiid1 as added by subsection 7a74