CPB Grants Help More Local Public Radio Stations Move Toward Digital Services

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced grant awards totaling more than $8.8 million to help an additional 119 local public radio stations, including 78 serving rural and minority audiences, purchase the equipment needed to transition to digital radio. This is the fourth round of grants to bring this exciting advancement in radio broadcast technology to public local stations. Digital technology will enhance significantly the quality and scope of program services, as well as provide richer quality sound than is currently available. CPB is encouraging and supporting the early adoption of this promising new technology by providing matching funds to eligible stations. CPB has distributed grants to 405 public radio stations and 285 public television stations to begin their digital transition. Additional awards for public television to convert to digital also will be announced this fall. Final grants are contingent upon final equipment costs and contract negotiations with individual stations. These funds are part of the nearly $190 million in funding that Congress has provided to CPB over the last five years to assist both public radio and public television stations to convert from analog to digital transmission.
[SOURCE: Corporation for Public Broadcasting press release]