Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
May 20, 2008
Amendments to Television and Radio Community Service Grants Eligibility Criteria
Five in favor, two absent
WHEREAS,
the transition of public television and radio stations to digital technology offers stations the capacity to deliver a variety of new programming and information far beyond the single program schedule they broadcast as analog stations; and
WHEREAS,
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has traditionally determined the stations' eligibility for Television and Radio Community Service Grants based on criteria identifying programming that qualifies, and programming that does not qualify, for those grants; and
WHEREAS,
in the past, the Corporation's eligibility criteria have been applied to stations' analog schedules, without direction or qualification as to the amount of alternative, non-qualifying programs that stations may offer in addition to their CPB-qualified program schedules, particularly as the same might be multicast on separate digital channels; and
WHEREAS,
recipients of CPB's Television and Radio Community Service Grants should be permitted to explore opportunities to use their digital capacity for the delivery new programming and services that may improve their performance and better serve their communities, provided that they continue to provide CPB-qualified public service programming consistent with the Communications Act and applicable CPB policies; and
WHEREAS,
CPB's Management has evaluated this issue in consultation with representatives of public television and radio stations and has requested authorization to amend the CSG eligibility criteria as provided in this Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Board of Directors authorizes CPB Management to amend its eligibility criteria for Television and Radio Community Service Grants, as they relate to station program schedules, so that:
1. The substantial majority of the total programming broadcast by each grantee shall qualify under CPB's program schedule eligibility criteria.
2. Community Service Grant funds may not be used for the production, acquisition or distribution of programs which do not qualify under CPB's program schedule eligibility criteria.
3. Revenue from programming, and from products or services related to such programming, that does not qualify under CPB's program schedule eligibility criteria shall not be included in Non-Federal Financial Support for the purpose of calculating any grant from CPB.