[R-G] Senate Adopts Victims of Iranian Censorship (VOICE) Act

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

Look at the lineup of the senators who introduced this bill.
Advocates of human rights and irandoustan?  I think not.  -- Yoshie

<http://lieberman.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=316182>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2009
	
Contact: Erika Masonhall, 202-224-4041
Senate Adopts Victims of Iranian Censorship (VOICE) Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate voted unanimously last night to adopt
bipartisan legislation that will help strengthen the ability of the
Iranian people get access to news and information and overcome the
electronic censorship and monitoring efforts of the Iranian regime.

The Victims of Iranian Censorship (VOICE) Act was introduced by
Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), Ted Kaufman
(D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Robert Casey (D-PA) as an amendment
to the National Defense Authorization Act. Among the key features of
the VOICE Act:

• Authorizes $30 million to the Broadcasting Board of Governors to
expand Farsi language broadcasting into Iran by Radio Free Europe /
Radio Liberty's Radio Farda and the Voice of America's Persian News
Network. The funds may be used to develop additional transmission
capability to counter Iranian government efforts to jam radio,
satellite, and Internet-based transmissions; establish additional
proxy server capability and anti-censorship software to counter
efforts to block access to websites in Iran; develop technologies to
counter efforts to block SMS text message exchange over cellular phone
networks; and hire, on a permanent or short-term basis, additional
staff for Radio Farda and the Persian News Network.

• Authorizes $20 million for a new "Iranian Electronic Education,
Exchange, and Media Fund," which will support the development of
technologies, including websites, that will aid the ability of the
Iranian people to gain access to and share information; counter
efforts to block, censor, or monitor the Internet in Iran; and engage
in Internet-based education programs and other exchanges with
Americans online.

• Requires a report by the President on non-Iranian companies,
including corporations with U.S. subsidiaries, that have aided the
Iranian government's Internet censorship efforts, including by
providing deep packet inspection technology.

• Authorizes $5 million for the Secretary of State to document,
collect, and dissemination information about human rights in Iran,
including abuses of human rights that have taken place since the June
12 Iranian election.

"The world has been astonished and inspired by the courage of millions
of Iranians pressing their regime for nothing more than their
inalienable rights," said Senator John McCain. "The Iranian government
has taken numerous steps to stop these citizens from communicating
with each other and with the outside world. As this cruel regime works
to close off Iranian society, the VOICE Act, by providing assistance
for broadcasting and new internet and communications technologies,
will help to open it up."

"In the wake of the June 12 election in Iran, we saw powerful proof of
how technology can empower millions of ordinary people in the face of
a repressive regime," said Senator Lieberman. "The VOICE Act will help
the Iranian people stay one step ahead of their regime, in getting
access to information and safely exercising freedom of speech,
assembly, and expression online."

"While the people of Iran enthusiastically participated in the June 12
elections, it is painfully clear that the long road to democracy does
not end there, as the government has infringed on the universal
principles of freedom of expression and press," said Senator Kaufman.
"Our bill supports the Iranian people as they take steps to peacefully
express their opinions and aspirations and seek access to news and
means of communication, especially over the Internet."

"Now is the time to come to the aid of the Iranian people," said
Senator Graham. "We must deny the regime the tools they desperately
need to continue repressing their own people. Our nation has a long
history of providing assistance to those who wish to live free. During
the Cold War, our efforts made a substantial difference and I believe
we can have the same effect today as the Iranian people work to
replace a repressive theocracy."

"The United States has no quarrel with the Iranian people," said
Senator Casey. "We share their aspirations for greater access to all
information so that they can make their own judgments free of
censorship and repression. Passage of this amendment puts the U.S.
Senate on record in favor of strengthening those fundamental freedoms
all Iranians deserve, no matter who their government is."



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