WASHINGTON – February 27, 2023 – America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) today presented its Champion of Public Broadcasting Award to Domenic Ruscio, a long-time advocate who recently retired.
As a budget official of the former Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Ruscio delivered the first federal check for $5 million to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in 1969. From his service on the Senate Appropriations Committee staff, to his successful advocacy for our federal funding over the past 25 years as a consultant to APTS, Ruscio’s unwavering engagement has significantly strengthened the public media system. This exceptional work culminated over the last four years with consecutive increases in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and a cumulative increase of $188 million across all public media programs, resulting in the highest level of federal funding for public broadcasting in history.
The Champion of Public Broadcasting Award is given to political leaders and other individuals who safeguard the ability of local public television stations to provide education, public safety and civic leadership services to their communities.
“From the moment Dom Ruscio delivered the first federal check to CPB more than 50 years ago, no one has done more, over a longer period of time, to ensure the essential public investment in our work,” said APTS president and CEO Patrick Butler. “His wise counsel, effective advocacy and personal passion for the mission of public media have been indispensable to our success over the past five decades. It’s my great honor to present him with this most well-deserved 2023 Champion of Public Broadcasting Award.”
“I can’t begin to express how honored I feel to receive this award,” said Ruscio. “But make no mistake: this was truly a team effort that harnessed the passion and dedication of Pat Butler, APTS staff, station managers and a top-notch group of legislative consultants.”
Before his recent retirement, Domenic Ruscio was a partner at CRD Associates. Ruscio is a specialist in government relations and the legislative process. He has more than five decades of public service and policy expertise helping both new and established organizations achieve their public policy goals through well-reasoned strategic planning, compelling messages and a tactical approach to policy development. His practice included corporate strategic planning and government relations; public and private universities; patient advocacy; defense technology and research; literacy-related programs; and public broadcasting.
Among his other achievements, Ruscio crafted a legislative strategy that led to the creation of a nationwide network of Alzheimer’s research centers; convinced lawmakers and Pentagon officials to expand essential health services to active-duty service members and their families; and helped an industry leader preserve its market under the Affordable Care Act. He co-authored “Lobbying the Appropriations Process,” published in the American Bar Association’s Lobbying Manual.
A member of the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics, he has held top posts in both Congress and the executive branch, serving on the staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he advised senators on funding for education, public health and employment training programs. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget at the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and, upon creation of the Department of Education, he was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation, serving as liaison to the House and Senate appropriations committees. Ruscio has been a featured speaker on the legislative and appropriations processes at numerous governmental, university, industry and trade association conferences.
Ruscio received his B.S. in Finance from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
The Champion of Public Broadcasting Award was presented to Domenic Ruscio during the APTS Public Media Summit on Tuesday, February 27, 2023.
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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