CPB Awards Grants to Stations for Emergency Alert Upgrades

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 3, 2024

Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has awarded grants to public media stations in six states as part of the first round of funding under the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) program. Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), these grants are aimed at upgrading emergency alert equipment to enhance public safety in both urban and rural areas.

Stations in Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Virginia are among the latest recipients. CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison emphasized the critical role public media plays in emergency alerting, particularly in underserved areas.

"The Next Generation Warning System grant program helps public media organizations, especially in rural areas, to replace and upgrade their infrastructure so that they can continue to keep their communities safe," said Harrison.

The NGWS program prioritizes public media stations, providing funding to upgrade equipment and offer training to enhance alerting and warning capabilities. This includes adopting advanced broadcast technologies like NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) and other digital platforms for radio stations.

FEMA's IPAWS Director, Manny Centeno, highlighted the importance of integrating new technologies to improve emergency communication. "FEMA is committed to building resilience by rapidly disseminating emergency communications to the public through diverse integrated pathways," he stated. Centeno noted that the NGWS program is key to leveraging tools like ATSC 3.0, which can reach broader audiences.

CPB has received approximately 170 applications for the second round of NGWS funding, totaling more than $109 million. With $48 million in grant funds available in this round, further upgrades are expected to bolster emergency communications across the country.