CPB Awards Up to $400,000 to Three Public Media Stations to Improve Emergency Alerting

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 19, 2024) - Public radio stations KHNS-FM and KRBD-FM in Alaska and Mountain Lake PBS in New York will receive a total of up to $400,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to upgrade their equipment to provide enhanced emergency alerting. With these grants, CPB has awarded a total of 24 public media stations funding so far for the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

"Public media stations have long played a vital role in emergency alerting in communities across the country," said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. "The Next Generation Warning System grant program helps public media organizations, especially in rural areas, replace and upgrade their infrastructure so that they can continue to keep their communities safe."

In 2022, FEMA selected CPB to establish and administer the NGWS grant program to help public media stations across the country create a more resilient and secure public alerting system. The program is providing $34 million in FY 2022 funding to public media stations across the country to upgrade their equipment and receive training to enhance alerting and warning capabilities, including the ability to use NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) broadcast technology and comparable digital broadcast technology for radio stations. The program prioritizes public media stations serving rural, Tribal, and underserved communities, and has been funded to provide an additional $48 million for FY 2023.

"FEMA is committed to building resilience by rapidly disseminating emergency communications to the public through diverse integrated pathways," said FEMA IPAWS Director Manny Centeno. "FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) provides a suite of tools and resources for local authorities to effectively send emergency communications to the public. We continue developing the Next Generation Warning System concept as we improve continuity and leverage new technologies, such as ATSC 3.0, that can reach the public wherever they are."

Here are the latest stations to receive NGWS grants:

• Lynn Canal Broadcasting/KHNS FM,serving Alaska's remote northern panhandle, up to $88,426 to incorporate digital audio and increase the redundancy and reliability of their broadcast station's emergency alerting, including an independent broadcast from Skagway if the KHNS studio and transmitter are compromised.
• Rainbird Community Broadcasting Corporation/KRBD-FM,serving the Alexander Archipelago of southeast Alaska, up to $95,185 for a new transmitter, broadcasting equipment, and generator that will enable the station to stay on air in case of an emergency.

• Mountain Lake Public Telecommunications Council/Mountain Lake PBS/WCFE-TV, Plattsburgh, NY, up to $218,586 to replace aging equipment with NextGen TV-ready equipment and buy new ATSC 3.0 licenses and testing and monitoring equipment.

The 24 stations to receive NGWS grants so far include eight in Alaska, four in New York and three in Texas. By state:

• Alabama:Alabama Public Television (up to $529,558).
• Alaska:Bethel Broadcasting - KYUK TV-AM-FM (up to $277,292); Kodiak Public Broadcasting - KMXT-FM (up to $51,670); KTOO Public Media, KTOO TV/FM (up to $252,209); Lynn Canal Broadcasting/KHNS FM (up to $88,426); Rainbird Community Broadcasting Corporation/KRBD-FM (up to $95,185); Silakkuagvik Communications KBRW (up to $98,853); Stikine River Radio (CoastAlaska) KSTK-FM (up to $90,002); Unalaska Community Broadcasting - KUCB-FM (up to $224,081).
• California:Northern California Educational TV - KIXE-TV(up to $857,105).
• Colorado:Community Radio Project (KZET-FM, KSJD-FM, and KICO-FM in the Four Corners region) (up to $54,750).
• Florida:IRSC Public Media, Indian River State College - WQCS-FM, WQCP-FM, and WQJS-FM (up to $165,680).
• Indiana:PBS Fort Wayne, WFWA-TV (up to $185,086).
• Michigan:Delta College Public Media - WDCQ-TV (up to $976,708).
• Mississippi:Mississippi Public Broadcasting (up to $221,000).
• Missouri:KMOS PBS, University of Central Missouri (up to $880,085).
• New York:Radio Catskill/WJFF-FM (up to $135,439); Mountain Lake Public Telecommunications Council/Mountain Lake PBS/WCFE-TV (up to $218,586); North Country Public Radio/St. Lawrence University/WSLU-FM (up to $109,675); St. Lawrence Valley Educational Television Council - WPBS-TV (up to $276,444).
• Oregon:Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs - KWSO-FM (up to $158,749).
• Texas:Alamo Public Telecommunications Council - KLRN-TV (up to $551,426); South Texas Public Broadcasting System - KEDT-TV/FM & KVRT-FM (up to $536,921); Texas A&M University - KAMU TV/FM (up to $486,214).

About the NGWS Grant Program
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded CPB a total of $96 million in FY 2022 and FY 2023-appropriated funds to establish and implement the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program. CPB is administering a competitive grant program for public television and public radio stations to replace and upgrade infrastructure to expand alert, warning, and interoperable communications, creating a more resilient and secure public alerting system. For more information, visit cpb.org/NGWSor email us at [email protected].About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit cpb.organd follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and subscribefor email updates.

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