WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 6, 2026 – Kate Riley, President and Chief Executive Officer of America’s Public Television Stations (APTS), issued the following statement today on the passing of Senator John D. Rockefeller IV.
“America’s Public Television Stations are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of longtime public media champion, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV.
“Senator Rockefeller spent decades in the Senate fighting to ensure a more equitable America, especially for the underserved and underrepresented in rural and urban areas alike.
“As part of that, Senator Rockefeller consistently championed access for all to the public services that are central to this nation’s health and prosperity, including what he saw as core public good – access to local public broadcasting stations in all corners of this country no matter where people lived or how they received their content.
“Time and again, Senator Rockefeller championed local stations and fought for their funding, reauthorization and carriage rights that ensured that every American could have access to a trusted local public broadcasting station.
“As a distinguished member of the Senate Commerce Committee and ultimately as its chairman, Senator Rockefeller’s leadership ensured that local public television stations were carried in high definition on satellite and enabled statewide carriage of public television statewide networks. He also made sure that consumer education funds were allocated for the digital transition and fought to protect broadcasters’ rights in the spectrum incentive auction.
“America’s Public Television Stations were honored to present Senator Rockefeller with the Champion of Public Broadcasting Award in 2014 in recognition of his exceptional efforts to safeguard the ability of local public broadcasting stations to provide educational, public safety and community connection services to their communities.
“To public broadcasting, Senator Rockefeller was more than a distinguished legislator, he was a trusted friend and as the husband of WETA’s President and CEO, Sharon Rockefeller, he was family to all of us in public media.
“Senator Rockefeller will be deeply missed, and our thoughts are with Sharon and their family at this difficult time. We take solace in knowing that his legacy will forever live on, especially in the most remote corners of this country where he fought to champion the underserved and ensure that the best of this country is available to all that live here.”
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About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and community connections to their local areas and the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org