CPB Awards Up to $587,000 to Three Public Radio Stations

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

Public radio KVPR in Fresno, WQLN in Erie, and KRCL in Salt Lake City are set to receive a significant financial boost aimed at enhancing their emergency alert capabilities. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has earmarked a total of $587,704 for these stations as part of the ongoing efforts to modernize the country's public media infrastructure under the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program.

These grants, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), represent a vital component of the nationwide initiative to ensure that public media can continue to serve as a critical emergency alerting channel in their respective communities. To date, the CPB has awarded NGWS funding to 38 public media stations across 21 states.

"Public media stations are pivotal in providing timely and potentially life-saving information during emergencies," said Corporation for Public Broadcasting President and CEO Patricia Harrison. "This funding helps stations, particularly those in rural areas, to update and maintain the necessary infrastructure to fulfill this crucial role."

The NGWS program focuses on enhancing the capabilities of public media stations to deliver advanced alerting and warning services to the public. This initiative not only includes financial assistance but also training for stations to manage new technologies and processes.

The first round of funding was part of a $40 million allocation approved by Congress in Fiscal Year 2022. With an overwhelming response from media stations, the CPB administered a second round of grants totaling $56 million in FY 2023. A third round is set to commence, backed by an additional $40 million approved for FY 2024.

"FEMA's commitment to bolstering community resilience through integrated emergency communications is unwavering," stated Manny Centeno, Director of FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. "Our partnership with broadcasters is essential in cultivating a robust network that can swiftly distribute emergency alerts to the public."

Among the recipients, KVPR-FM in Fresno will receive up to $38,607 to construct an auxiliary transmitter site, ensuring continuity of service during critical incidents. WQLN-FM in Erie is allocated up to $87,059 for upgrading its equipment and software to enhance signal reception across its translator sites. KRCL-FM in Salt Lake City is set to benefit from up to $462,038 to expand its transmission capabilities to cover a broader and more rural audience.