FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Tania Panczyk-Collins
202-654-4222
tpanczyk@apts.org
Public Broadcasters Receive Critical Support From Senate Washington—June 20, 2007—The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) praised Senate appropriators for recommending continued support for public broadcasting in the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill.
In a markup yesterday, the Senate appropriations subcommittee provided $420 million in advance funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for FY 2010. Mirroring its House counterpart, this represents the first increase to this critical line-item in four years.
The subcommittee also provided level funding of $29.7 million for the CPB Digital program to assist stations in making the transition to digital. The federally mandated February 17, 2009 switch to digital television is only one budget cycle away. This money will allow stations to create and deliver a new generation of digital content and services.
The appropriators also increased funding by $1 million for Ready To Learn to approximately $25.3 million. The program is an innovative early learning partnership between PBS, local Public Television stations and the U.S. Department of Education.
Finally, the subcommittee provided $10.9 million in level funding for Ready To Teach, a program that ensures teachers have access to educational services aimed at enhancing teacher performance, in turn raising student achievement.
The full Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider this bill on Thursday, June 21 at 2 p.m.
Earlier this month, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee provided $29.7 million for the CPB Digital program, $24.3 million for Ready To Learn, and $10.9 million for Ready To Teach.
