WASHINGTON – October 8, 2009 – APTS praises Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) for her ardent support of the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) when the program was targeted for elimination earlier this month by Senator John McCain (R-AZ). Chairwoman Mikulski included $20 million for PTFP, which funds infrastructure and equipment upgrades and replacements for public broadcasting entities in the FY 2010 CJS appropriations bill. These funds are critical to stations that need to replace failing and outdated equipment.  

Senator McCain proposed a total elimination of the funds, to which Senator Mikulski vigorously opposed. In her statement she said, “public telecommunications facilities are exactly what we need during these troubled economic times to provide access to quality TV to ordinary people who might not be able to afford cable TV, satellite TV, or dish TV.”  In recognizing the value of public television in local communities she said, “One thing that is very popular with the American people is public TV and public radio. We have to maintain quality content. We have to maintain quality infrastructure.” To read Chairwoman Mikulski’s speech, click here.

APTS applauds Chairwoman Mikulski and the 63 other Senators that voted to oppose this very damaging amendment. APTS appreciates all the support both the Senate and the House have given to PTFP, which is critical to ensuring that communities continue to have access to the highest quality public broadcasting content in homes and schools nationwide. To view the full list of Senators supporting PTFP in this vote, click here.