,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #chbj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ba1 #bjbj,mrs4 ,blackburn 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,scott of ,florida1 and ,mr4 ,wyden7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,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 #b_/c of the world's population live in countries in which the internet is restricted4 ,governments shut down the internet more than #bjj times every year4 7#d7 ,internet censorship and surveillance technology is rapidly being exported around the world1 particularly by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 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-- 7#a7 to promote global internet freedom by countering internet censorship and repressive surveillance2 7#b7 to protect the internet as a platform for-- 7,a7 the free exchange of ideas2 7,b7 the promotion of human rights and democracy2 and 7,c7 the advancement of a free press2 and 7#c7 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 following3 #cji;,a4 ,open ,technology ,fund 7a7 ,authority 7#a7 ,establishment ,there is established a grantee entity1 to be known as the ,open ,technology ,fund1 which shall carry out this section4 7#b7 ,in general ,grants authorized under section #cje shall be available to award annual grants to the ,open ,technology fund for the purpose of-- 7,a7 promoting1 consistent with ,united ,states law1 unrestricted access to uncensored sources of information via the internet2 and 7,b7 enabling 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 ,media to create and disseminate news and information consistent with the purposes1 standards1 and principles specified in sections #cjb and #cjc4 7b7 ,use of grant funds ,the ,open ,technology ,fund shall use grant funds received pursuant to subsection 7a77#b7-- 7#a7 to advance freedom of the press and unrestricted access to the internet in repressive environments oversees2 7#b7 to 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#c7 to 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#d7 to 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#e7 to develop1 acquire1 and distribute requisite internet freedom technologies and techniques for the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media1 in accordance with paragraph 7#b71 and digital security interventions1 to fully enable the creation and distribution of digital content between and to all users and regional audiences2 7#f7 to prioritize programs for countries1 the governments of which restrict freedom of expression on the internet1 that are important to the national interest of the ,united ,states in accordance with section #gjej7;b77#b77;,c7 of the ,department of ,state1 ,foreign ,operations1 and ,related ,programs ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbj 7division ,g of ,public ,law #aaf-id72 and 7#g7 to 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 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 possible2 and 7,b7 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 interests of the ,united ,states or to individuals or organizations benefitting from programs supported by the ,open ,technology ,fund2 7#c7 review and periodically update1 as necessary1 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 7,a7 seek input from technical1 regional1 and subject matter experts from a wide range of relevant disciplines2 and 7,b7 to review1 provide feedback1 and evaluate proposals to ensure that 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 foreign allies1 and partner countries 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 with1 or grants made to1 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 requiring that-- 7,a7 grant funds are only used on activities consistent with this section2 and 7,b7 failure to comply with such requirement shall result in termination of the grant without further fiscal obligation to the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,each grant agreement under this section shall require that each contract entered into by the ,open ,technology ,fund specify that all obligations are assumed by the grantee and not by the ,united ,states ,government4 7#d7 ,each 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-- 7,a7 should be kept to a minimum2 and 7,b7 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 whose purpose 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 oversight and governance by the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media in accordance with section #cje4 7#b7 ,assistance ,the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media1 its broadcast entities1 and the ,open ,technology ,fund should render such assistance to each other as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section or any other provision under this ,act4 7#c7 ,not a ,federal agency or instrumentality ,nothing in this section may be construed to make the ,open ,technology ,fund an agency or instrumentality of the ,federal ,government4 7#d7 ,detailees ,employees of a grantee of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media may be detailed to the ,agency1 in accordance with the ,intergovernmental ,personnel ,act of #aigj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dgja et seq47 and ,federal employees may be detailed to a grantee of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media1 in accordance with such ,act4 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 deconflicted with internet freedom programs of the ,department of ,state and other relevant ,united ,states ,government departments4 ,agencies should still 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 7c71 which shall include-- 7,a7 an assessment of the current state of global internet freedom1 including-- 7i7 trends in censorship and surveillance technologies and internet shutdowns2 and 7ii7 the threats such pose to journalists1 citizens1 and human rights and civil society organizations2 and 7,b7 a description of the technology projects supported by the ,open ,technology ,fund and the associated impact of such projects in the most recently completed year1 including-- 7i7 the countries and regions in which such technologies were deployed2 7ii7 any associated metrics indicating audience usage of such technologies2 and 7iii7 future-year technology project initiatives4 7#b7 ,assessment of the effectiveness of the ,open ,technology ,fund ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,state and the ,foreign ,service shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that indicates-- 7,a7 whether the ,open ,technology ,fund is-- 7i7 technically sound2 7ii7 cost effective2 and 7iii7 satisfying the requirements under this section2 and 7,b7 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 ,fund that relate to functions carried out under this section 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-- 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 #cje7;a77#bj7 and #caj7;c7 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fbjd7;a77#bj7 and #fbji7;c771 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 ,fund1 which shall be used to carry out section #cji;,a of the ,united ,states ,international ,broadcasting ,act of #aiid1 as added by subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba2 and 7#b7 #be1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbb4