10 FAM 350
U.S. Speaker Program and Audio/video/web conferences
(CT:PEC-75; 03-13-2019)
(Office of Origin: IIP)
10 FAM 351 PURPOSE
(CT:PEC-53; 11-16-2018)
a. The U.S. Speaker Program (IIP/PD/SP) enables
communication between individual U.S. citizens who represent a broad range of
responsible and informed opinion in the United States and key foreign
audiences. The program awards grants to U.S. experts to present lectures,
serve as consultants, or conduct workshops and seminars for professional
audiences. See 1
FAM 353.2 for more information on the
program.
b. Grantees represent most disciplines, except English
language teaching, and interact with a variety of professional audiences.
Grantees do not teach undergraduate classes or conduct research. The program
applies the intellectual and creative competence of those U.S.
citizens to public diplomacy issues identified by U.S. missions abroad through
the mission performance plan process. Grantees travel to one or more foreign
countries, or participate in an electronic audio or video conference.
10 FAM 352 AUDIENCE
(CT:PEC-53; 11-16-2018)
a. The U.S. Speaker Program is subject to the same
restrictions as other IIP products regarding domestic distribution. However,
upon their return to the United States, the U.S. experts can share with other U.S. citizens the insights they have gained into foreign cultures.
b. To maximize this benefit, the Program maintains an
active commitment to casting as wide a net as possible to attract new
participants (see 10
FAM 313 for audience information for all IIP products).
10 Fam 353 Program, Products, and
Services
10 FAM 353.1 U.S. Speaker Program
(CT:PEC-011; 02-03-2006)
a. The following guidelines pertain to all traveling
U.S. Speaker and Specialists, Digital Video Conferencing (DVC), and audio
conferencing (TPC) grantees whether they are recruited by program officers in
IIP or directly by missions abroad.
b. Criteria used in selection of speakers:
(1) Broad range of responsible and
informed opinion U.S. Speaker and Specialist grantees are
representative of the broad range of responsible and informed opinion
throughout the United States. Selected on the basis of their credentials,
their ability to communicate, and the relevance of their contributions to mission
performance plan objectives, they are not limited to the expression of U.S.
government policies.
(2) Mission performance plansAll
U.S. Speaker and Specialist grantees will be recruited to meet specific mission
performance plan requirements, as they are aggregated under worldwide priority
themes. Programs are requested in two forms:
(i) Name requests
(ii) Projects for which a grantee must be identified
(3) For all name requests, posts must provide
sufficient justification for the individual(s) specified, including current
contact information, confirmation of U.S. citizenship, and a rationale for the
selection of the individual.
(4) Department of State employees may not receive
grants or otherwise receive bureau funding or logistic support to speak or
travel under this U.S. Speaker Program.
(5) Additional information on guidelines, procedures
and regulations including travel, per diem, honorarium, and restrictions can be
found under the Standard Operating Procedures on the IIP Intranet site.
10 FAM 353.2 Digital Video
Conferencing (DVC)
(CT:PEC-53; 11-16-2018)
a. The Office of Video Production (IIP/PD/EVP) (see 1 FAM 353.4) administers
the digital video conferencing program for the Bureau of International
Information Programs. Video teleconferencing is a timely, flexible,
cost-effective communications tool for interactive discussions and presentation
on vital policy issues with key foreign audiences and opinion leaders.
Typically, U.S. missions abroad use video conferencing to conduct cultural and
policy discussions between officials or experts in the United
States, and small groups or panels in the host country. Digital video
conferences (DVCs) can include more than two sites.
b. DVCs are a useful tool for bringing U.S. experts and policymakers, who otherwise would be unable to travel, into substantive
discussion with foreign opinion leaders. DVCs are also useful for consultations
between posts abroad and Washington offices, training sessions, interviews and
other varieties of distance learning. The requirements for a video interactive
discussion are ISDN (integrated digital service network H.320) or IP
(internet protocol H.323) circuits, video conferencing equipment and
appropriate training.
c. IIP/PD/EVP operates the IIP studio, assisting in
the management of expansion of conferencing technology at missions abroad, and
providing technical support and advice to other offices conducting programs
related to public diplomacy efforts. IIP/PD/EVP also promotes digital video
technology abroad by enabling missions to test the program values of DVC
broadcasts, and by providing funding assistance. The DVC staff conducts
research and evaluates new technology that could be used to enhance program
values within the Departments video conferencing network. This includes
desktop communication as well as Web casting and other forms of streaming video
to bring conferences into more embassies and offices abroad. Information on
installations, requirements and program highlights can be found at the DVC website.
d. IIP/PD/EVP utilizes a listserv and e-mail to keep in
touch with technical staff abroad, assisting with training when possible and
developing programs with them. The staff also conducts regular testing between
conferencing points to determine equipment operation and connectivity between
end points.
e. The DVC staff conducts yearly workshops in basic and
advanced operation so that posts abroad can take advantage of experience gained
through conducting video conferences in mixed environments. The DVC staff
tailors the class to the particular needs of those taking part in the workshop.
10 FAM 354 RESPONSIBILITIES
(CT:PEC-53; 11-16-2018)
Posts must report on these speaker programs within two
weeks of the conclusion of the program (see Intranet website for format
requirements).
10 FAM 355 DEFINITIONS
(CT:PEC-75; 03-13-2019)
Digital Video Conference (DVC): A
full motion video-teleconference program that enables U.S.
and foreign participants on both sides to see and talk with each other in real
time.
Teleconferencing: Tele-Press
Conferencing (TPC), sometimes referred to simply as audio conferencing, allows
people in two or more locations to communicate their thoughts, ideas and
concepts, despite their physical separation. A TPC is an international
telephone conference call that links one or more U.S. speakers/specialists
anywhere in the world with audiences in one or more locations.
Web Audio conferencing: The
distinction here is the use of Internet instead of traditional phone lines.
Web Casting or Video conferencing:
These can be directed to a select audience by means of pass worded or protected
sites or cast wide to anyone with access to the website.
Web Chat: Text-based, question and
answer dialogue over the Internet. These can be directed to a select audience
by means of pass worded or protected sites or open to anyone with access to the
IIP Intranet site.
10 FAM 356 Through 359 UNASSIGNED