WASHINGTON — February 1, 2010 — Today, the President submitted his Fiscal Year 2011 budget to Congress, recommending a total of $496 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) including a $460 million two-year advance appropriation for FY 2013 (an increase of $15 million over FY 2012) and $36 million for public television and radio digital conversion, content and services.  

"We are grateful to the Administration for acknowledging the vital service public broadcasting provides to the American people. The proposed increase in the advance appropriation reflects a recognition of the enormous return on investment public broadcasting generates regarding education, job training and disease prevention. However, we are concerned that the President's budget does not recommend funding for many vital programs and services that local public television stations provide," said Larry Sidman, President and CEO of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS).  

"The President's budget request does not include money for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program, an essential program which funds infrastructure and equipment upgrades and replacements for public broadcasting stations, and the RUS Digital Transition Grant Program, a program to ensure that the digital conversion does not leave rural America behind," Sidman continued. "Funding through these programs serves two compelling government interests: creating new construction and infrastructure jobs, and ensuring that rural communities are able to share in the fruits of the digital age."  

Sidman continued, "Moreover, Ready To Learn and Ready To Teach, two programs that are critically important to the education of America's children, have been consolidated into larger education programs, without specific funding attached to them. The future of these programs that have been proven to work so well for America's children and teachers should not be jeopardized."  

Sidman concluded, "APTS looks forward to working with the Administration and Congress as they proceed to work through the budget for FY 2011. We will again make our case for fully funding public broadcasting so that we can continue to serve the American people with the valuable programming and services we provide over-the-air, on-line and on-the-ground to local communities across our country."