Idaho Public TV

[joyfish@uidaho.edu]

Dear Vision 2020 Subscriber:

Now is the time to express your support of an important resource to the
people of the State of Idaho.  The future of Idaho Public Television will
be determined in the coming weeks at the Idaho Legislature.  Monday
February 7th the House Education Committee will hold public hearings on
this issue.

In the past several years Idaho Public TV has become a tremendous
educational resource.  IDPTV is a great equalizer in our state.  Whether
rural or urban, rich or poor, schools have access to the same high quality
information.  These are just a few of the many educational resources that
were available last year to our schools and the citizens of Idaho free of
charge.  600 hours of overnight Instructional Television making video
materials for teaching and learning available as taped resources in the
classroom.  15 hours per week of after-school programs that educate as well
as entertain.  19 hours of programing targeting college-bound students for
college and career planning.  Many of these programs also have companion
web sites that allow for further learning and exploration of a subject.

In our geographically diverse state where many in the southern portion of
our state receive their national affiliate news from Salt Lake City, and
the northern region gets their news from Spokane, it is important that we
have a television news source that reports on the Idaho Legislature and
other news of interest to our entire state.  Locally produced programs such
as "Dialogue" and "Outdoor Idaho" bring our citizens together in a way no
other single media source can.

Congress has legislatively compelled the FCC to mandate television stations
nationwide to either build required digital television facilities, or lose
the right to broadcast on its current analogue channels.  Failure to comply
with this mandate will mean the end of Idaho Public Television.

In the end this upgrade not only insures that we keep this valuable
resource it will make it even better.  New digital equipment will provide
programs in wide-screen format, CD-quality sound, and higher resolution
pictures.  The digital signal will also allow transmission of four
different programming channels at once.  IDPTV could broadcast programs for
adult learners as well as schools and young children plus entertainment at
the same time.

I urge you to contact your legislatior to let them know that it is
important to fund the FCC mandate to upgrade our facilities to broadcast on
the new digital channels.  You can phone 800-626-0471, Fax 208-334-5397 or
e-mail infontr@lso.state.id.us.

Thank You,

Joy Fisher
President, Friend of Idaho Public Television Northern Idaho