Three more public broadcasters, including two radio organizations in Alaska, will receive federal grant money to upgrade their emergency alerting infrastructure.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced the latest awards in the Next Generation Warning System grant program. FEMA has awarded CPB $96 million total in FY 2022 and 2023 funds to implement NGWS.
Lynn Canal Broadcasting’s KHNS(FM), serving Alaska’s remote northern portion of its panhandle, will receive up to approximately $88,000 for digital audio upgrades and increase its emergency alerting reliability. A separate broadcast site in Skagway, Alaska, is being planned if KHNS’ primary studio and transmitter in Haines is compromised.
Rainbird Community Broadcasting’s KRBD(FM) in the Alexander Archipelago of southeast Alaska is getting up to approximately $95,000 for a new transmitter, other broadcasting equipment and a power generator allowing the station to broadcast during emergencies.
And PBS affiliate Mountain Lake Public Telecommunications’ WCFE(TV) in Plattsburgh, N.Y., will receive up to about $218,000 to swap out aging infrastructure with NextGen TV-ready equipment. The funds will also go toward buying new ATSC 3.0 licenses as well as testing and monitoring equipment.
Two dozen broadcasters have been selected for grant funding to date, including eight in Alaska, four in New York and three in Texas. A second round of applications for funding recently concluded.
“The NGWS 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,” CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said in a press release.
