The Voice of Public Television Stations Since 1980

In 1980, America’s public television stations created the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) as their premier advocate. For the past twenty-five years, APTS has been the voice of the public television station community – offering member stations and future leaders of public television unparalleled opportunities for impact.

APTS is a nonprofit membership organization established to represent the interests of its members — the nation’s public television stations. The goal of APTS is simple to state and a challenge to achieve: secure federal funding and policies to help our stations serve their local communities as effectively as possible. The APTS mission is to support the continued growth and development of a strong and financially sound noncommercial television service for the American public. APTS provides advocacy for public television interests at the national level, as well as consistent leadership and information in marshaling grassroots and congressional support for its members.

APTS works closely with individual station representatives to produce effective legislative strategies that allow stations to fulfill their individual missions. As broadcasters make the transition to digital transmission, APTS is working to ensure that the federal government continues its commitment to universal public television services.

APTS is . . .

Representation

APTS’ legal and regulatory activities for stations are more important than ever with passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. APTS advocates stations’ interests on taxation, budget, education, cable, digital television and related issues. APTS’ regulatory and legal efforts continue to focus on ensuring access to new technologies for public television services; advocating the interests of public television stations in regulatory proceedings at the FCC, NTIA and IRS; participating in litigation when our members’ interests are at stake; and providing timely information about legal and regulatory issues to stations.

Communications

APTS serves stations by communicating the concerns and values of public television to many audiences, including: legislators, regulators, opinion leaders, business leaders, educators and the general public. APTS relies on media relations, the World Wide Web, publications, special events and public relations for effective communications. Perhaps our most important task is reinforcing the sense of public television’s value in the minds of our many audiences. And with the transition to digital underway, our communications efforts aim to educate stations and the public alike on the complex, yet exciting, realm of digital television.

Signaling Value

APTS helps stations build a solid advocacy foundation, so that members can develop their own efforts. This advocacy foundation is built from: publications, brochures, fact sheets, congressional testimonies and position statements covering services and programs offered by stations; exhibits and events for members of Congress, the Administration, the media and the public; and maintaining a presence on the World Wide Web.

Planning and Research

APTS works to identify current and emerging issues which directly influence public television’s ability to serve audiences—both now and in the future. With the public broadcasters recent unveiling of a digital transition strategy, APTS is now focused on ensuring that stations will be set to harness the full benefits of digital technology. Every change in the media environment reminds us of our important planning and research role. APTS provides the means for stations to define themselves in the legislative and regulatory arenas.