Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $71,820 in federal funding to WCNY-TV in Syracuse. These federal dollars will be used by WCNY-TV to provide public television service to Oneida, Herkimer and Otsego counties. This funding is allocated by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to aid public television and radio stations transition from analog to digital broadcasting.
“This is a great investment for the region,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This funding will ensure that families across Central New York continue to receive access to quality educational programming. I will continue working to encourage investment in our state’s technology and future.”
“We want to thank Sen. Gillibrand for her efforts in securing this grant for WCNY and her support of public broadcasting,’’ said Rosie Taravella, Vice President for Corporate Advancement, WCNY. “This funding will allow valued programming such as Sesame Street to reach thousands of families that will receive these over-the-air broadcasts through the digital translator.’’
Since 2001, Congress has provided more than $350 million in funds to the CPB to aid public television and public radio stations with the conversion from analog to digital broadcasting. WCNY-TV in Syracuse will use these funds to replace an analog translator with a digital translator, which will provide continued public television service to Oneida, Herkimer and Otsego counties.