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APTS Praises Public TV Leaders’ Efforts in Digital Technology and Education

WASHINGTON—January 24, 2007 —A Public Television station that created a potential life-saving network and another that developed a comprehensive online educational resource will be this year’s recipients of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) EDGE Award .

WXXI Public Broadcasting in Rochester, N.Y., and the Arkansas Educational Telecommunications Network (AETN) will each be presented with the EDGE Award on February 13 as part of APTS Capitol Hill Day. The EDGE Award highlights excellence in the digital transition, groundbreaking partnerships and educational technologies.

“Public television continues to lead the television industry in rolling out a new generation of digital content and services for the American public,” said APTS President and CEO John Lawson. “Our award recognizes those stations and leaders who are at the cutting edge within public television. They truly are the best of the best in leading the digital revolution.”

WXXI Public Broadcasting

WXXI is making a difference in its community by using the power of technology to provide life-saving applications to its local public safety agencies. In 2003, the station upgraded to digital broadcasting and acquired multiple channels through its digital stream.

A year later, in collaboration with the Rochester City Fire Department, WXXI began to use a portion of its digital signal as the backbone for an encrypted Emergency Training & Information Network (ETIN). This private network is broadcast on WXXI’s digital frequency and allows time-sensitive information to be distributed to firehouses, police stations, ambulances and hospitals within minutes.

Fueled by a $640,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security to the Rochester City Fire Department, the network broadcasts exclusively to public safety agencies within a 75-mile radius of Rochester. The encrypted channels carry three modes of data: one for general training content; one for more specific on-demand use; and one for emergency situations. That content is then sent to a dedicated server in various formats—everything from text files and Power Points to Flash and videos.

Today, the network is deployed to more than 100 user locations. The system also has sparked interest from other sectors of the public safety community. “We hope this will become a national model for stations to serve their local communities,” said Norm Silverstein, president and CEO, WXXI Public Broadcasting Council. “As public media we are always looking for ways to better serve our community.” The network is “thrilled” to be recognized and will further promote and educate other stations about this “cutting-edge project,” Silverstein said.

Arkansas Educational Telecommunications Network

AETN is receiving the EDGE Award for a free Web portal called Internet Delivered Education for Arkansas Schools (IDEAS). IDEAS offers educational resources to every school and teacher in Arkansas. The online resources include PBS TeacherLine, video streaming, Arkansas Technical Institute Online, the AETN Scholar Channel and the means to hold online communications with other educators.

“We are honored that AETN has been chosen to receive the EDGE Award for the Arkansas IDEAS professional development Web portal,” said AETN Education Director Kathleen Stafford Branton. “Addressing the needs of Arkansas educators and helping to shape the future of learning in the state are among our greatest priorities. Our commitment to the state’s educational needs is bolstered by the realization that we are aiding teachers in becoming more successful in their classrooms and careers.”

Arkansas IDEAS, which launched in September 2006, is accessible to teachers throughout the state 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Arkansas law requires all certified employees of public schools complete 60 hours of approved professional development each year. Educators can count courses completed through Arkansas IDEAS toward these requirements, and Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) funding allows AETN to offer Arkansas IDEAS to every school district at no charge.

Arkansas IDEAS is provided by the Arkansas Online Professional Development Initiative, a collaborative effort among AETN, ADE and PBS TeacherLine. “There is so much more to do, but AETN is proud of our leadership role in this cooperative project,” said AETN Executive Director Allen Weatherly.

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