WASHINGTON – April 16, 2018 – America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) president and CEO Patrick Butler issued the following statement today commending the Federal Communications Commission for a substantial increase in the funds allocated for repacking broadcast channels in the aftermath of the spectrum incentive auction:
“America’s Public Television Stations are grateful to the FCC’s Incentive Auction Task Force and the Media Bureau for today’s announcement that an additional $742 million has been allocated to ensure that broadcasters have the resources they need to repack their channels. This additional allocation is possible, in large part, because of the additional $1 billion in repacking funding that America’s Public Television Stations requested and Congress provided in the final FY 2018 omnibus appropriations bill enacted last month.
“As I stated in my testimony before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology last fall, this additional repacking funding is critical to the 149 public television stations that are being repacked and will ensure that public television stations are able to pursue their essential public service missions in education, public safety and civic leadership without fear of going off the air for lack of sufficient funds to complete the post-auction transition.
“We are especially appreciative of the leadership of Jean Kiddoo, Chair of the Incentive Auction Task Force, and Michelle Carey, Chief, Media Bureau, and to members of the Commission itself, for their deep expertise and commitment to a successful post-auction process.”
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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 civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org