Senate Appropriations Committee approves pubcasting funding bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday okayed the fiscal 2010 Labor-HHS appropriations bill, recommending a $450 million two-year advance appropriation for CPB, up from $430 million for FY 2011; $36 million for public television and radio digital conversion, content and services; $10.7 million for Ready To Teach; $28.5 million for Ready To Learn; and $10 million for financial assistance to pubTV and radio stations impacted by ongoing economic problems. The House had already approved $440 million for CPB, $40 million for station financial aid, $36 million to continue the digital transition and $25.4 million for Ready To Learn. A statement from PBS noted that the fed appropriation makes up about 18 percent of system revenue, “essential seed money that makes public service media possible in this nation.”