AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

SEC. 1262. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.(a) International Broadcasting Operations Fund.—In addition to amounts otherwise authorized for the Broadcasting Board of Governors’ International Broadcasting Operations Fund, there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 to expand Farsi language programming and to provide for the dissemination of accurate and independent information to the Iranian people through radio, television, Internet, cellular telephone, short message service, and other communications.(b) Broadcasting Capital Improvements Fund.—In addition to amounts otherwise authorized for the Broadcasting Board of Governors’ Broadcasting Capital Improvements Fund, there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 to expand transmissions of Farsi language programs to Iran.(c) Use of Amounts.—In pursuit of the objectives described in subsections (a) and (b), amounts in the International Broadcasting Operations Fund and the Capital Improvements Fund may be used to—(1) develop additional transmission capability for Radio Farda and the Persian News Network to counter ongoing efforts to jam transmissions, including through additional shortwave and medium wave transmissions, satellite, and Internet mechanisms;(2) develop additional proxy server capability and anti-censorship software to counter efforts to block Radio Farda and Persian News Network Web sites;(3) develop technologies to counter efforts to block SMS text message exchange over cellular phone networks;(4) expand program coverage and analysis by Radio Farda and the Persian News Network, including the development of broadcast platforms and programs, on the television, radio and Internet, for enhanced interactivity with and among the people of Iran;(5) hire, on a permanent or short-term basis, additional staff for Radio Farda and the Persian News Network; and(6) develop additional Internet-based, Farsi-language television programming, including a Farsi-language, Internet-based news channel.