[liberationtech] Congressional Support for Internet Freedom Programs

[Collin Anderson]

LibTech -

It may be in everyone's interest to note that, in the midst of
Congressional scrutiny over foreign aid programs, funding will likely
continue for Internet Freedom programs in the next fiscal year. From POMED's
notes (
http://pomed.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Event-Write-Up-10-18-2011-Arab-Assessment.pdf
):

*Department of State Allocations*

Another difference can be found in additional language in the Senate bill to
> designate funding for Internet freedom programming:
>


*"[o]f the funds appropriated under the heading "Economic Support Fund", up
> to *

*$25,000,000 shall be made available to the Bureau of Democracy, Human
> Rights *

*and Labor for programs to promote human rights by expanding open and *

*uncensored access to information and communication through the Internet,
> mobile *

*phones, and other connection technologies including digital safety
> training, policy *

*and advocacy, and the development of circumvention and secure
> communication *

*technologies, as identified in the Department of State"s Internet freedom *

*strategy."*


*BBG Allocations*

For the Broadcasting Board of Governors" International Broadcasting
> Operations, the House bill allocates $730
> million for "radio and television broadcasting to the Middle East," and the
> Senate bill allocates $740 million for
> the same activity.  The Senate bill includes an additional provision for
> $2.5 million "to expand unrestricted
> access to information on the Internet through the development and use of
> circumvention and secure
> communication technologies."


Best of luck.

Collin

-- 
*Collin David Anderson*
averysmallbird.com | @cda | Washington, D.C.
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