Funding to Replace OPB and SOPTV Rural Translators Included in Governor's Proposed Budget

Governor Kulongoski's proposed FY 2007-2009 budget includes $2.75 million in capital funding to cover half the cost of replacing 55 rural analog translators with digital translators and $1 million in operating funds to help cover the expense ($500,000 per year) for supporting this extensive and expensive infrastructure. The proposed funding will allow OPB and Southern Oregon Public Television (SOPTV) to continue to provide quality programming over-the-air and free of charge to all Oregonians while also operating the state's Amber Alert and Emergency Alert Services.

The cost of serving rural and remote parts of Oregon is high and the population too sparse to provide enough financial support to fully cover the cost. Serving each home in Eastern Oregon is 11 times more costly than serving those in the Portland area. In Central Oregon, the cost is nine times more than in Portland.

This funding is not guaranteed and the final outcome will not be known until the legislature approves the final budget by mid-2007. OPB and SOPTV face an FCC-mandated deadline of February 19, 2009, when the analog broadcast service will be shut off, which will require the replacement of up to 55 rural analog translators with new digital translators.

Since the loss of state funding in 2003, voluntary contributions from members and business partners have provided 80 percent of OPB's operating revenues. Even during difficult times of financial austerity, OPB continued to support services that traditionally benefited the state (in roles that are voluntary not compulsory) including management of the state's Emergency Alert Service, the Amber Alert system and a reading service for the blind and visually impaired.