APTS launched the Rural Services Coalition in 2001 to address the digital conversion needs of stations serving rural America. The coalition strove to work with Congress to find funding for rural stations to finance the conversion from analog to digital broadcasting. In 2003, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new grant program to finance the conversion of television services from analog to digital broadcasting for public television stations serving rural areas. Since the announcement, approximately $30 million has gone to rural public television stations to help them in their transition.

Grant funds may be used to acquire and install facilities and software necessary for the transition. Grant funds may also be used for associated engineering and environmental studies. Conversion needs include transition equipment such as new antenna, transmitter or translator and digital management facilities and digital production equipment such as digital cameras, editing and mastering systems.

No example illustrates the influence of APTS’ coalition members on Capitol Hill than APTS' success with the USDA grant and the Rural Services Coalition. Julie Andersen, Executive Director of South Dakota Public Broadcasting aptly stated, “The Rural Services Coalition has provided an invaluable opportunity for South Dakota Public Broadcasting to meet the expensive challenge of converting our most rural stations to digital. I cannot think of another opportunity that has provided such an incredible return on investment.”

For more information about the Rural Services Coalition, please contact:

Jennifer Kieley
Director, Government Relations
202.654.4210
jkieley@apts.org