David J. Brugger Awarded Public Televisions Highest Recognition

For Immediate Release on April 2, 2001

Washington, D.C. -- Public televisions highest honor, the Ralph Lowell Award, was today awarded to David J. Brugger, the immediate past President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Americas Public Television Stations (APTS), a nonprofit membership organization that supports public television. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which presents the award, recognized Brugger as a champion of the interests of local public television stations and the services they provide in communities across the nation.

"Like Ralph Lowell, David saw public broadcastings capacity to educate and inspire," said Frank Cruz, CPB Board Chair, in presenting the award. "Like Lowell, David built on public televisions role as a vital local institution to create a foundation of national support."

"David has worked behind the scenes to champion the work of Americas public television stations," said Robert T. Coonrod, CPB President and CEO. "He never let any of us forget that our strength exists in our service to local communities."

During his 13-year tenure at APTS, Brugger directed advocacy efforts on behalf of public television, and worked to achieve consensus on controversial national public broadcasting issues, ensuring the best representation of stations interests at the federal level.

Brugger led advocacy efforts resulting in positive federal policies for public television stations including the elimination of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulatory fees; the establishment of rules that protect public access to public television programming and services; and carriage protection for public television stations on local cable systems, an effort which culminated in a major victory for public television in the United States Supreme Court.

Before joining APTS, Brugger served in senior executive positions at CPB, Floridas public stations WUFT-TV and WUFT-FM, and the Iowa Public Television Network.

"Being in the honored company of public broadcastings best friends in Congress, our many creative national producers and a number of our very capable leaders, I am humbled by my inclusion as a Lowell Award recipient," said Brugger. "Looking over the list of awardees I am most honored to be in the company of Mister Rogers, a person of special inspiration to me especially during my Iowa years producing and directing childrens television. I am also a long time admirer of Ward Chamberlin. I have tried to emulate them. They always have been positive about people, about their profession and about what they can accomplish by dedicating their lives to the benefit of others. And that, of course, speaks to so many public broadcasters."

About CPB

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,400 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

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