System/Policy
Pubcasters ask FCC for help with boosting cable, satellite carriage
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PBS and America’s Public Television Stations asked the commission to take on obstacles reducing access to public TV channels.
System/Policy
Spending bill approved by Congress boosts CPB appropriation for 2024
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The legislation also provides $41 million for the Next Generation Warning System grant program at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
System/Policy
New FCC rules spare pubcasters from foreign sponsorship disclosures
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The commission reined in proposed regulations that had sparked concern at NPR and PBS.
System/Policy
Pubcasters urge FCC to offer ‘flexibility’ on proposed foreign government sponsorship rules
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The FCC has signaled its intent to make broadcasters consistently identify when programs have received financial support from a foreign government.
Tech
Public TV advocates hail FCC ruling on ATSC 3.0
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The commission is giving noncommercial TV stations a break on several rules and fees, a move that public broadcasters hope will lead to increased datacasting opportunities.
System/Policy
Public TV fights datacasting fees at FCC
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Advocates are challenging a requirement that stations pay the FCC 5% of revenue from “ancillary or supplementary services,” which they say could hamper adoption of ATSC 3.0.
Tech
FCC proposal could help public TV stations improve signal coverage
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Co-authored by America’s Public Television Stations, the proposal would expand the use of booster transmitters to fill coverage gaps.
System/Policy
Bipartisan bill inspired by American Graduate proposes grants to stations
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The legislation would provide funds to stations for workforce development through the Department of Education.
System/Policy
At APTS Summit, Butler says FEMA grant program would be government’s ‘best investment’ in public safety
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CPB has asked the Department of Homeland Security to set aside funds for public broadcasting emergency communications.
System/Policy
In FCC proceeding, APTS makes case for aiding FirstNet
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“To leave public television stations … on the sidelines of the FirstNet infrastructure is to ignore a robust, reliable and ubiquitous partner whose public safety capabilities have proven effective in a variety of critical use cases,” APTS told the FCC.
System/Policy
In EBS vote, FCC denies special treatment for public broadcasters
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The FCC plans to auction off Educational Broadband Service spectrum and give commercial buyers an equal shot at snapping it up.
System/Policy
House Appropriations Committee approves increased Ready To Learn funding, $495M for CPB
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The bill would boost Ready To Learn funding by more than $2 million.
System/Policy
FCC proposal to allow sales of EBS spectrum gets thumbs-down from public TV
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Representatives of stations told FCC officials that allowing sales of the educational spectrum could create a “hostile leasing environment.”
System/Policy
Next CPB funding request will grow by $50 million, Butler tells APTS Summit
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APTS President Pat Butler also said that the organization is exploring several spectrum revenue partnerships, including with Netflix.
Quick Takes
Pubcasters complain FCC rules on satellite renewal are ‘antiquated’
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TV stations are now required to renew satellite carriage requests every three years.
System/Policy
APTS’ Butler sees good outlook for pubcasting support after midterms
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Public broadcasting “may hope for, and we are planning for, more public support over the next 10 years,” America’s Public Television Stations President Pat Butler told attendees at the Fall Marketplace conference.
Quick Takes
NPR urges FCC to provide ‘full reimbursement’ for radio stations affected by repack
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Local stations “have limited financial and operational resources to absorb the impact of the TV repack,” NPR said in FCC comments.
America's Public Television Stations
House budget proposes level funding for CPB in FY21
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The bill also would provide $20 million for interconnection.
Obituaries
Public TV pioneer Chalmers “Chuck” Marquis dies at 91
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Longtime friends and colleagues remember Marquis as public television’s man on Capitol Hill.
System/Policy
Pubcasting orgs decline to support request for ATSC 3.0 must-carry rules
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PBS, CPB and American’s Public Television Stations said in an FCC filing that they recognize the commission is “not inclined” to back the must-carry requirement proposed by Public Media Co.