I am a member of the Board of Representatives of Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU-TV) and am writing to express my deep concern regarding Governor Rendell’s proposal in the budget to eliminate funding for the stations of the Pennsylvania Public Television Network, including our local station. We rely on that money to provide the quality, educational and non-commercial services to our largely rural viewing area.
In these troubling times, I understand that we should bear our fair share of the state’s budget cuts, but doing away with ALL funding would be devastating to our station as well as the other stations across the Commonwealth…not to mention the staff layoffs and service cuts that would ensue.
Most of you are familiar with the many successful programs that WPSU offers. From our Keystone eMedia project, the “Scholastic Scrimmage” and “3 to 8 Educate”…this particular programming reaches pre-school children and helps them to succeed as students. All of these have been provided by critical state funding, and it’s hard to believe that our great Commonwealth would let this critically important investment expire.
Our kids and grandkids grew up with “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood”, “Sesame Street”, “Curious George” and “Barney & Friends”. The adults enjoy “Nova”, “Frontline”, “This Old House”, “Nightly Business Report”, “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer” and “Antiques Roadshow”, and many more. This programming is not free to us, and I cannot fathom what would result if the proposed cut for public television would happen.
I urge you to contact your State Legislators and ask for their support.
Bill Franson
Clearfield