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requesting a significant increase is Communications, Utilities and Other Rent. Included in this category are funds for mainframe computer and programming services which would increase by 65 percent (from $545,000 to $900,000) under our budget request. This is a direct reflection of the expansion in data base development and quantitative analysis that will be required under the Commission's broadened mandate. A modest increase in funds for outside contracts will also help to extend and support the work that can be conducted directly by Commission staff.

CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

STATEMENTS OF:

MARSHALL C. TURNER, JR., CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DONALD E. LEDWIG, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ACCOMPANIED BY FREDERICK De MARCO, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, STATION RELATIONS AND TREASURER

BUDGET REQUEST

Senator HARKIN. Now we will hear from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. I would like to welcome the President and Chief Executive Officer, Donald Ledwig, as well as Marshall Turner, Chairman of CPB's Board of Directors.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is the primary vehicle for providing Federal financial assistance to the radio and television stations which currently compose the noncommercial broadcasting system.

CPB is forward funded for 2 years. For fiscal year 1994, CPB is requesting $279 million for its Public Broadcasting Fund, a 10-percent increase. The President's request is $260 million, or 2.6 percent over the prior year.

In addition, CPB is requesting $76 million for a new unauthorized public telecommunications-for-education fund.

Mr. Ledwig, welcome again to the subcommittee. I recognize Mr. Turner. If you would introduce Mr. DeMarco and his position. We will put your statement in full in the record, and please summarize it if you will.

INTRODUCTION OF ASSOCIATES

Mr. TURNER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the subcommittee.

My name is Marshall Turner. I am Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB. I am accompanied today by Mr. Donald Ledwig, President and Chief Executive Officer, and by Mr. Frederick De Marco, Senior Vice President, Station Relations and Treasurer of CPB.

I welcome this opportunity to appear before you today for two main reasons: to record my support for the Corporation's request for an appropriation of $279 million for fiscal year 1994 for general appropriations and to testify in support of the Corporation's request for an appropriation of $76 million for the new public telecommunications-for-education fund. This fund would be used exclusively to create and deliver new educational programming and services to all Americans.

Before I continue, I wish to thank the subcommittee for its unwavering support and enthusiasm for public broadcasting for the last 24 years.

Mr. Chairman, we at the Corporation are well aware that within the jurisdiction of this subcommittee alone there are scores of programs that help people meet one of life's basic necessities, quality health care, as well as other important social needs such as raising educational standards and providing safer working environments for America's work force. When it comes to choosing among worthy programs, CPB appreciates the hard choices that this subcommittee makes each year and particularly this year.

During the last 24 years, you have helped create and build an outstanding system of public radio and television stations and many of the outstanding programs we air. Public broadcasting is broadly supported and heavily used by viewers and listeners today. Public broadcasting strives to give Americans the opportunity to see or hear educational, cultural, and public affairs programs of the highest quality and almost always succeeds.

EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING

But there is one glaring opportunity where the infrastructure that is public broadcasting is greatly underutilized in relation to its potential to help address a critical national need, education. Our country faces no greater challenges than improving education and upgrading our work force. Our ability to solve other problems will require the success at these too. CPB firmly believes that public broadcasting is positioned to contribute much more to solving these serious problems than it has in the past.

We are certain that one way to maximize the value of our programming and services is by extending their impact through outreach activities and conversion of programs to educational materials. For example, what made "The Civil War" such a magnificent achievement was not just its ability to rivet the Nation's attention over a 5-night period last fall. The more compelling value is in its use now as a television course by schools, colleges, universities, people in their work forces, people in many locations where they happen to be.

What makes public broadcasting's education, information and outreach programming so effective is not the broadcast of a single program or series during the year. It is the rippling effect of those programs to touch human lives, to involve citizens at the local level in finding local solutions to national problems. Recognizing the potential to maximize the level of service public broadcasting provides, CPB, with strong support from the public broadcasting system, began to examine the possibilities for redirecting and expanding public broadcasting's capacity and ability to improve educational services.

Using this input and with the help of several key public broadcasting organizations and stations, CPB has designed a multiyear plan to expand significantly the role of public broadcasting in developing and delivering new educational programs and services. The plan utilizes public broadcasting's accumulated experience and infrastructure as a foundation from which public broadcasting will

be able to make a significant, cost-effective contribution to American education in the 1990's.

Emphasis within the plan has been placed on instructional and motivational materials for use by preschool children and day-care providers, improving student and teacher skills in math and science, using all appropriate technologies, and a comprehensive effort to make Americans aware of and to encourage their participation in solving local and national education problems.

With adequate resources, public broadcasting can use its telecommunications capabilities in cooperation with business and education to help reverse the downward trend in academic achievement and reinvigorate America's education system. In short, public broadcasting can quickly reach through geographic and institutional barriers to provide inexpensive access to educational programming in schools and work places, as well as homes and automobiles. For this effort to be successful, Federal support for the public telecommunications-for-education fund is crucial.

NEED FOR FULL APPROPRIATIONS FOR CPB'S GENERAL OPERATIONS

Critical to the initiative's success, however, is a system that is financially sound and technically capable of producing the programming and services outlined in this initiative. Thus, Federal support for the education initiative can only be effective if your continued investment in general operations is assured.

Mr. Chairman, public broadcasting is a highly developed nationwide telecommunications system. It brings together ideas, producers, technology, funds, and audiences. CPB will continue to seek and support the production of significant new programming for radio and television. We want to expand the reach of the public radio broadcast signal so that it is available to as many Americans as possible.

In television during prime time and for general audiences, we want to see more children's educational programming and complete our current effort to develop a high quality alternative children's weekend block. We will expand our educational programming directed toward parents, young adults, people entering the work force and people new to America.

But our most significant contribution will be to educate Americans in the broadest sense. Whether through formal course work or through educational programs and services, CPB and all of public broadcasting stand ready to be of service to provide a cost-effective, nonduplicative delivery system.

The challenges are many, but so too are the rewards in improving the quality of life and education for all of our citizens. That, Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, is a worthy goal toward which I promise you the best and unstinting efforts of CPB and its colleagues throughout public broadcasting.

PREPARED STATEMENT

Following Mr. Ledwig's summary of his testimony, I will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. And thank you again for the opportunity to speak before you today, and most importantly, thank you for your support of public broadcasting.

Senator HARKIN. Mr. Turner, thank you very much for a very eloquent and very fine statement.

[The statement follows:]

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