Document text
SOPTV may still receive aid By JESSICA SMITH A bill that would provide $1 million in state aid to Southern Oregon Public Television has yet to pass the Oregon Legislature's principal spending authority. But at least one local legislator says the bill will clear the House and Senate. House Bill 3700, which provides funding for a federal mandate that requires public TV stations to switch to digital signals, was referred to the Ways and Means Committee in early May. The bill should be introduced in the House as part of a lottery bond package in the next few weeks. "We're getting our fair share of money and it should go through," said Rep. Alan Bates, D-Eagle Point. Under the bill, about $7 million in lottery-backed funds would be set aside for digital public broadcasting in the next biennium, which begins July 1. A federal law requires public broadcasting stations to convert to digital signals by May 1, 2003. "This is something that has to be done for us to stay on the air," Bates said. "We need to get it done." The bill identifies about $1 million for Southern Oregon Public Television, which broadcasts on KSYS channel 8. That would cover one-quarter of the estimated $4 million cost to switch over to a digital broadcast, said Bill Campbell, SOPTV president and CEO. Though the Federal Communications Commission approved the digital TV conversion in 1996, it provided no funding for the switch. Public broadcasting stations have been forced to find the money themselves. "In rural Oregon, it's difficult to raise funds for this conversion," Campbell said. "But it's important for our organization because it will enable us to increase educational programming." A digital signal would allow public TV stations to broadcast up to four times as many programs as currently aired. Each digital signal is capable of transmitting four channels simultaneously. For SOPTV, a digital signal would provide more hours for educational programming such as work-force training and televised college courses, Campbell said. To offset the rest of the cost to convert to digital TV, Campbell said the Medford station will seek federal funds and donations from viewers. Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.