PUBLIC LAW 105-277—OCT. 21, 1998 112 STAT. 2681-784 or any officer thereof in the official capacity of such officer, is a party to a suit which is related to the functions transferred by this chapter, then effective on such date such suit shall be continued with the Broadcasting Board of Governors or other appropriate official of the Board substituted or added as a party. (2) LIABILITY OF THE BOARD.—The Board shall participate in suits continued under paragraph (1) where the Broadcasting Board of Governors or other appropriate official of the Board is added as a party and shall be liable for any judgments or remedies in those suits or proceedings arising from the exercise of the functions transferred by this chapter to the same extent that USIA would have been liable if such judgment or remedy had been rendered on the day before the abolition of USIA (e) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS RELATING TO PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS. — Any administrative action relating to the preparation or promulgation of a regulation by the Broadcasting Board of Governors relating to a function exercised by the Board before the effective date of this title may be continued by the Board with the same effect as if this chapter had not been enacted. (f) REFERENCES. —Reference in any other Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation of authority, or any document of or relating to the Broadcasting Board of Governors of the United States Information Agency with regard to functions exercised before the effective date of this title, shall be deemed to refer to the Board. SEC. 1328. REPORT ON THE PRIVATIZATION OF RFE/RL, INCOR- 22 USC 6544. PORATED. Not later than March 1 of each year, the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the progress of the Board and of RFE/RL, Incorporated, on any steps taken to further the policy declared in section 312(a) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995. The report under this subsection shall include the following: (1) Efforts by RFE/RL, Incorporated, to terminate individual language services. (2) A detailed description of steps taken with regard to section 312(a) of that Act. (3) An analysis of prospects for privatization over the coming year. (4) An assessment of the extent to which United States Government funding may be appropriate in the year 2000 and subsequent years for surrogate broadcasting to the countries to which RFE/RL, Incorporated, broadcast during the year. This assessment shall include an analysis of the environment for independent media in those countries, noting the extent of government control of the media, the ability of independent journalists and news organizations to operate, relevant domestic legislation, level of government harassment and efforts to censor, and other indications of whether the people of such countries enjoy freedom of expression.
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