The St. Joseph County (Ind.) Board of Commissioners has approved financing a public access television station, to be operated and managed by local public TV station WNIT, reports the South Bend Tribune. The board authorized spending $155,000, or about 30 percent of the total necessary, over the next five years on the project. South Bend will provide $280,000 and Mishawaka, $75,000.
The station will broadcast public meetings and other content related to government and education on channel 99. Angel Hernandez, WNIT vice president of production, is setting up the station, which includes creating a community advisory council. Hernandez anticipates an October launch date.
In a similar arrangement, Rhode Island PBS receives about $200,000 annually for its management oversight and operational support for several public access channels (Current, May 29).