Vermont PBS will receive $56 million from the FCC spectrum auction after selling one of its four broadcast licenses.
The sale of the license for WVTA will not affect viewers, according to the station, which will re-engineer its network and upgrade signals to fill the gap in coverage.
The station plans to invest the proceeds in educational and cultural programming. “The proceeds are a one-time source of revenue that the station will use to build a 21st century public media platform for the local community,” Vermont PBS said in a statement.
Proceeds from the auction will be distributed to stations later this year.
The sale comes as Vermont PBS, a statewide network, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Vermont PBS is actually selling the spectrum for WVTA, a relay on Mount Ascutney. The main transmitter on Mount Mansfield, plus relays in Rutland and St. Johnsbury, are not affected.