§ 6205 — Establishment Of The International Broadcasting Advisory Board

(a) The International Broadcasting Advisory Board (referred to in this section as the “Advisory Board”) shall advise the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media, as appropriate. The Advisory Board as established shall exist within the executive branch as an entity described in section 104 of title 5. (1) The Advisory Board shall consist of seven members, of whom— (A) six shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, in accordance with subsection (c); and (B) one shall be the Secretary of State. (2) The President shall designate, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one of the members appointed under paragraph (1)(A) as Chair of the Advisory Board. (3) Not more than three members of the Advisory Board appointed under paragraph (1)(A) may be affiliated with the same political party. (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), members of the Advisory Board shall serve for a single term of 4 years, except that, of the first group of members appointed under paragraph (1)(A)— (i) two members who are not affiliated with the same political party, shall be appointed for terms ending on the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of the U.S. Agency for Global Media Reform Act; (ii) two members who are not affiliated with the same political party, shall be appointed for terms ending on the date that is 4 years after the date of the enactment of the U.S. Agency for Global Media Reform Act; and (iii) two members who are not affiliated with the same political party, shall be appointed for terms ending on the date that is 6 years after the date of the enactment of the U.S. Agency for Global Media Reform Act. (B) The Secretary of State shall serve as a member of the Advisory Board for the duration of his or her tenure as Secretary of State. (A) The President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, additional members to fill vacancies on the Advisory Board occurring before the expiration of a term. (B) Any members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve for the remainder of such term. (C) Any member whose term has expired shall continue to serve as a member of the Advisory Board until a qualified successor has been appointed and confirmed by the Senate. (D) When there is a vacancy in the office of Secretary of State, the Acting Secretary of State shall serve as a member of the Advisory Board until a new Secretary of State is appointed. (c) In identifying individuals for appointment to the Advisory Board under subsection (a), the President shall appoint United States citizens— (1) who, with the exception of the Secretary of State, are not regular, full-time employees of the United States Government; and (2) who are distinguished in the fields of public diplomacy, mass communications, print, broadcast or digital media, or foreign affairs, of whom— (A) one individual should be appointed from among a list of at least three individuals submitted by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; (B) one individual should be appointed from among a list of at least three individuals submitted by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; (C) one individual should be appointed from among a list of at least three individuals submitted by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and (D) one individual should be appointed from among a list of at least three individuals submitted by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. (d) The members of the Advisory Board shall— (1) provide the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media with advice and recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Agency and its programming; (2) meet with the Chief Executive Officer at least four times annually, including twice in person as practicable, and at additional meetings at the request of the Chief Executive Officer or the Chair of the Advisory Board; (3) report periodically, or upon request, to the congressional committees specified in subsection (c)(2) regarding its advice and recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the United States Agency for Global Media and its programming; (4) obtain information from the Chief Executive Officer, as needed, for the purposes of fulfilling the functions described in this subsection; (5) consult with the Chief Executive Officer regarding budget submissions and strategic plans before they are submitted to the Office of Management and Budget or to Congress; (6) advise the Chief Executive Officer to ensure that— (A) the Chief Executive Officer fully respects the professional integrity and editorial independence of United States Agency for Global Media broadcasters, networks, and grantees; and (B) agency networks, broadcasters, and grantees adhere to the highest professional standards and ethics of journalism, including taking necessary actions to uphold professional standards to produce consistently reliable and authoritative, accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and information; and (7) provide other strategic input to the Chief Executive Officer. (1) The heads of Voice of America, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, the Open Technology Fund, or of any other grantee authorized under this chapter may only be appointed or removed if such action has been approved by a majority vote of the Advisory Board. (2) After consulting with the Chief Executive Officer, five or more members of the Advisory Board may unilaterally remove any such head of network or grantee network described in paragraph (1). (A) A quorum shall consist of four members of the Advisory Board (excluding the Secretary of State). (B) Except as provided in paragraph (2), decisions of the Advisory Board shall be made by majority vote, a quorum being present. (C) The Advisory Board may meet in closed sessions in accordance with section 552b of title 5. (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a grantee may not be debarred or suspended without consultation with the Chief Executive Officer and a three-fourths majority vote of the Advisory Board in support of such action. (A) A grantee may not be suspended unless the Advisory Board determines that the criteria described in section 513.405 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, have been met. (B) The Advisory Board shall collectively serve as the suspending official (as described in section 513.105 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations). (A) A grantee may not be debarred unless the Advisory Board determines that one or more of the causes described in section 513.305 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, has been established. (B) The Advisory Board shall collectively serve as the debarring official (as described in section 513.105 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations). (1) Members of the Advisory Board, while attending meetings of the Advisory Board or while engaged in duties relating to such meetings or in other activities of the Advisory Board under this section (including travel time) shall be entitled to receive compensation equal to the daily equivalent of the compensation prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5. (2) While away from their homes or regular places of business, members of the Board may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized under section 5703 of such title for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. (3) The Secretary of State is not entitled to any compensation under this chapter, but may be allowed travel expenses in accordance with paragraph (2). (h) The Chief Executive Officer shall, from within existing United States Agency for Global Media personnel, provide the Advisory Board with an Executive Secretary and such administrative staff and support as may be necessary to enable the Advisory Board to carry out subsections (d) and (e).