Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
September 15, 1998
TV CSG Review Task Force Recommendations
Unanimously
WHEREAS,
The Board acknowledges that, under the provisions of the Public Broadcasting Act, CPB makes grants to eligible public television stations in a manner intended to provide for the financial needs and requirements of stations in relation to the communities and audiences they serve, and to maintain existing, and stimulate new sources of non-Federal support for stations;
WHEREAS,
Public television stations and Management believe that public television should encourage greater investment in programs and services that benefit the American people, protect the public's investment in valuable spectrum resources, and maintain, where possible, universal access to a local public television/educational service, especially in non-overlapping sole-service small and rural communities;
WHEREAS,
The impending conversion to digital broadcasting will require substantial investments by stations in new technical facilities, and in new and expanded services and programs, and the cost of digital conversion will add greatly to the economic burden of stations;
WHEREAS,
All public television stations must prepare for an environment which will place greater emphasis on economic self-reliance, through increased collaboration, improved practices, and more efficient use of system resources;
WHEREAS,
Core elements of CPB's current station grants program contain provisions that should be strengthened to help ensure the preparedness of stations for the digital environment, provide a more consistent distribution of financial support to stations, and offer appropriate incentives to stations to seek long term funding solutions;
WHEREAS,
Management has reviewed the extensive work of the CPB-appointed TV CSG Review Task Force, has met with stations and their representation organizations at regional and national meetings, sent multiple discussion papers of related issues to and invited comment from each public television station; and
WHEREAS,
The Task Force and Management have recommended that the corporation modify various requirements of the television Community Service Grants program, provide incentives for greater self-sufficiency, collaboration, and consolidation, modify provisions for the division of a single base grant in overlap service areas, provide increased support for sole-service small and rural communities,and provide continued support for existing programs designed to increase revenues, improve practices and reduce system and station operating costs;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The CPB Board of directors hereby adopts the Management recommendation to establish a Special Assistance Grant for non-overlapping sole-service, small and rural stations, to continue the funding of the TV Transition and Future Funds, and to make related adjustments to station grants policies as detailed in Management's recommendation of September 14, 1998, which is incorporated by reference (attached).