WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 21, 2023 – America’s Public Television Stations today commended the House Appropriations Committee for proposing $40 million for public broadcasting’s Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) in the fiscal year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
“Recognizing the budgetary restrictions imposed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, we are grateful that the committee recommended $40 million for public broadcasting’s Next Generation Warning System in fiscal year 2024,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations.
“But this funding level represents a $16 million cut from the current appropriation for NGWS, and it will have a serious effect on our stations’ ability to upgrade their facilities to provide secure and reliable homeland security and public safety communications services,” Butler said.
“Local public television stations and their public safety partners at the federal, state and local levels are responsible for missions ranging from earthquake and severe weather warnings to Amber Alerts to Wireless Emergency Alerts,” Butler said, “and funding for the Next Generation Warning System is critical to our ability to provide the most modern and versatile communications possible to pursue these essential missions.
“We are hopeful that the strong bipartisan support for the Next Generation Warning System and public media, both in Congress and among the American people, will ultimately ensure that this vital infrastructure program is fully funded. The greater the investment, the safer the American people will be,” Butler said.
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About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org