Four additional Next Generation Warning System grants have been given by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The recipients are PBS Member stations in Central Missouri and in Fort Wayne, Ind.; the public broadcaster serving Alaska’s state capital; and a similar operation in Kodiak, Alaska.
The four public broadcasting entities have been awarded a total of up to $1.37 million from CPB to upgrade their equipment to provide enhanced emergency alerting.
The recipients are:
- KMOS PBS, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Mo.
- Fort Wayne PBS, WFWA-TV, Fort Wayne, Ind.
- KTOO Public Media, KTOO TV/FM, Juneau, Ak.
- KMXT-FM, Kodiak Public Broadcasting, Kodiak, Ak.
KMOS will receive up to $880,085 to replace aging broadcasting infrastructure and provide increased technical capacity to partner with local, state and federal emergency management officials in emergencies.
WFWA is poised to receive up to $185,086 to improve the reliability and resiliency of their broadcast station’s warning system and support the installation of several updated equipment components.
At KTOO Public Media, up to $252,209 is being offered to allow the organization to improve the station’s resilience and warning system infrastructure. KTOO is the local primary distribution point for Juneau and reaches tribal and other populations in outlying communities.
Lastly, KMXT is eligible to receive up to $51,670 to buy encoders to improve common alerting protocol capability, fill gaps in alert delivery and provide backup power systems to improve its infrastructure and resilience.
The Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). CPB has awarded 17 grants to date through the first round of funding.
“Public media stations have long played a vital role in emergency alerting in communities across the country,” said CPB President/CEO Patricia Harrison. “The Next Generation Warning System 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.”
In 2022, FEMA selected CPB to establish and administer the NGWS grant program to help public media stations across the country create a more resilient and secure public alerting system. The program funds public media stations to upgrade their equipment and receive training to enhance alerting and warning capabilities, including the ability to use NextGen TV broadcast technology and comparable digital broadcast technology for radio stations. The program prioritizes public media stations serving rural, Tribal, and underserved communities.
In June, CPB launched a Request for Applications (RFA) portal on the CPB website for a second round of funding for the NGWS grant program. The total amount of NGWS grant funds available in this round is $48 million, approved in Fiscal Year 2023.
“FEMA is committed to building resilience by rapidly disseminating emergency communications to the public through diverse integrated pathways,” said FEMA IPAWS Director Manny Centeno. “FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) provides a suite of tools and resources for local authorities to effectively send emergency communications to the public. We continue developing the Next Generation Warning System concept as we improve continuity and leverage new technologies, such as ATSC 3.0, that can reach the public wherever they are.”
These groups join Alabama Public Television, Alamo Public Telecommunications Council (KLRN-TV, San Antonio, TX), Bethel Broadcasting (KYUK/TV-AM-FM, Bethel, Alaska), Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Indian River State College (WQCS, WQCP, and WQJS, FL), Delta College Public Media (WDCQ, MI), Community Radio Project (KZET-FM, KSJD-FM, and KICO-FM, Four Corners region), KSTK Stikine River Radio (CoastAlaska), Silakkuagvik Communications Inc. (KBRW, AK), Unalaska Community Broadcasting/KUCB-FM, South Texas Public Broadcasting System/KEDT-TV/FM & KVRT-FM, Radio Catskill/WJFF-FM, and North Country Public Radio/St. Lawrence University/WSLU-FM, which have also received grants from the $34 million in FY 2022 funding that CPB is awarding over two years.
