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.The Nebraska Educational Television (NETV)
Commission subcommittee on public radio at a news
conference Wednesday announced its recommendations
for a Nebraska Public Radio Service, which is proposed as
a confederation of educational licensees representing
postsecondary educational institutions in Nebraska.
Commissioner Edwin C Nelson, Chadron, chairman of
the subcommittee which has been studying the public
radio question for the past year, said that a confederation
of independent licensees, working together with NETV,
could provide programs of local interest as well as
programs with statewide and national interest. The
Nebraska Public Radio Service would provide instruction
in schools and colleges and for homebound students, the
subcommittee's report said.
Nelson said the subcommittee's study clearly showed
that public radio service does not duplicate commercial
radio services available in the same areas. Public radio
caters to a wide range of specialized interests rather than
to broad general interests of the public, the study said.
The subcommittee's recommendations include a
three-phase implementation of the public radio service,
which, when completed would be nine full-power FM
stations developed over a period of time and utilizing the
existing NETV transmiter locations.
The first phase of the proposed plan to provide public
radio service in Nebraska, calls for the Educational
Television Commission to seek authorization and
financing from the Legislature to activate and operate the
first of the proposed stations. The first station, according
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to recommendations, would be at Head, and would be the
flagship station of the Nebraska Public Radio Service.
The second phase would be activation of stations at
postsecondary education institutions already serving their
particular areas.
Capital construction costs for the total plan of nine
FM-station public radio service is estimated at over $13
' million. Almost $1 million of this cost would be provided
by the federal government. Other costs would be met with
state finds, the subcommittee proposed.
At 1976 cost estimates, cost of operating the total
system would cost Nebraskans about $656,000 annually.
Federal costs would be $89,500 each year.
Based on a nationwide study of public radio, the public
radio subcommittee report cites seven reasons for
recommending the establishment of a public radio service
in the state:
-Public radio is an accepted and useful service, which
is supported by the public in 40 states and in almost 200
communities across the country. "
Public radio programming does not duplicate
commercial radio services available in the same area.
-Few Nebraskans are now able to receive a public
radio station frequency though surrounding states are
expanding public radio service.
Radio has a high potential for use in instruction,
especially useful in remote geographical areas.
Certain highly specialized educational needs can be
serve J through the FM multiplex channel (SCA). Service
an be offered to persons enable to read by a special
"reading service" on an SCA receiver while the main FU
channel is simultaneously broadcasting general audience
programs. This offers in-service training potential for
doctors, nurses, pharmacists, law enforcement officers and
other professionals.
-Federal funds are available to assist in financing both
capital costs and operating expenses.
-FM frequencies for noncommercial educational use in
Nebraska are available now, but may quickjy become
scarce as neighboring states proceed with their public
radio development plans.
The Commission subcommittee includes Nebon,
president of Chadron State College; James Johnson,
Kearney, general manager of the Nebraska Television
Network and Alvin Gilmore, Omaha businessman.
A public hearing on public radio in Nebraska is
scheduled for Tuesday, July 20, at 8:30 p.m. The hearing
will be at the Nebarska Educational Telecommunications
Center, 1 SOON. 33rd St.
At the hearing, the Nebraska ETV Commission will
hear statements from individuals and organizations either
supporting or opposing public radio in Nebraska.
The hearing will be broadcast live on the NETV
Network, and viewers will be able to call in questions or
statements concerning public radio.
Written opinions or questions about the proposed
public radio service in Nebraska are being accepted by the
NETV Commission.
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