The Post said the demand for technology to break down the barriers is skyrocketing and far exceeds the US budget providing such technology.
The result is bottlenecks that threaten the goal of Internet freedom that is championed by both the Obama Administration and Republicans in Congress—one of the few issues on which they agree.
Andre Mendes, director of the office of Technology Services and Innovation at the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which operates Radio Farda, told the Post: “Every time we provide them [counter-censorship tools] with additional funding, those bottlenecks are alleviated for a time, but again fills to capacity in a short period of time.”
Supporters of the US efforts to counter censorship said the expenditures were well worth it. They said the United States is spending only $30 million a year to counter Internet blocks while Iran, China and other countries are spending billions to try to keep a lid on the Internet.
The most commonly used tools route Internet traffic through other countries, bypassing the firewalls and surveillance technology used by censors.
The counter-technology is funded by the BBG and the Department of State. An official at the BBG said it would love to spend much more money on countering censors, but is under pressure from Congress to cut its $750 million operating budget by 7 percent.