Public Broadcasters Get $36 Million for DTV

    Public television stations across the country - 97 of them - will receive $36 million in federal grants for the digital transition, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced. An additional $6 million will go to public radio, distance learning and replacement of television equipment at sev
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    Public television stations across the country - 97 of them - will receive $36 million in federal grants for the digital transition, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced. An additional $6 million will go to public radio, distance learning and replacement of television equipment at seven stations.

    Noncommercial television stations are required to begin digital broadcasts by May 1, 2003.

    The $42 million in grants will be matched by more than $74 million in funds raised by the stations, the NTIA said.

    The funds are part of the NTIA's Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP). The NTIA is part of the Commerce Department.

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    DTV for the public promo image
    Miscellaneous

    DTV for the public

    Delivering digital programming costs money, and transmitting digital by the FCC's May 2003 deadline means finding sources of funding now. PBS stations are making definite progress in this direction, but more than 350 member stations still have some distance to go.