04.15.11

Durbin Announces more than $200,000 in Public Broadcasting Grants to Illinois Stations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has awarded three grants totaling in $206,861 to local Illinois public radio stations for digital conversion.

 

“In my State of Illinois, 1 million people listen to our 14 public radio stations each week and 3 million people each month tune into our 8 public television stations,” Durbin said. “With the momentous changes occurring in the world, and the major challenges facing our Nation, it is essential we maintain the integrity and viability of public broadcasting.”

 

The funding is part of $350 million in funding from Congress to the CPB since 2001 for the modernization of both public television and radio stations. The conversion from analog to digital transmission equipment with increase the power level of the participating stations by at least four times, providing richer quality sound than is currently available to listeners throughout Illinois. This conversion will significantly enhance the scope and quality of services that local public radio stations can provide to their communities.

 

Under this announcement, the following local radio stations will receive funding to convert from analog to digital broadcasting:

 

• WBEZ-FM in Chicago: $78,889

 

• WCBU-FM in Peoria: $68,375

 

• Tri States Radio in Macomb: $59,597