$1 million for Northern Michigan Public TV upgrade

NEWS RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN BART STUPAK

1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

********************** Northern Michigan Public TV received $1 million for digitial upgrade

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded a $1 million grant to assist WNMU-TV with its conversion to a digital television (DTV) format.

The television station, a public broadcasting service (PBS) affiliate, is replacing its traditional analog system with a digital broadcast system.

Attending the ceremony for the presentation of the award, Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) hailed the funding as an important step for public broadcasting in northern Michigan.

"Converting to digital television will bring benefits to WNMU's viewers, my constituents," Stupak said. "WNMU-TV has been an excellent cultural and educational resource not only for Marquette, but for the entire Upper Peninsula. I am pleased to see the federal government assist WNMU with their transition to digital television."

Under FCC rules, all television broadcasters must convert to digital television.

The switch to digital allows television stations to provide an enhanced viewing experience with superior picture and sound quality.

Digital television also enables stations to split their broadcasts into multiple program streams, so called "multicasting," allowing stations to offer greater programming variety.

In the future, WNMU-TV plans to use the multicasting technology to offer an increased variety of educational programming over several digital streams. "The costs associated with transitioning to digital broadcasting have, at times, seemed overwhelming - especially in recent years with the severe constraints made by Michigan's economy," said Eric Smith, general manager of WNMU-TV/FM. "The investment USDA is now making in our technology-based infrastructure will pay enormous dividends in the years to come."

"This investment in northern Michigan public broadcasting will mean that WNMU-TV can provide yet more exciting educational services to their viewers," Stupak said.

Smith praised Stupak's role in securing the funding. "Congressman Stupak has been a stalwart champion in Washington of public broadcasters and of WNMU," Smith said. "Without his help during these lean times, WNMU simply would not be here."

In Washington, Stupak serves on the U.S. House of Representatives Telecommunications Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over broadcasting and telecommunications legislative issues.

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