USDA Rural Development Announces Digital Transition Grant to Maine Public Broadcasting Network

(BANGOR, Maine) – USDA Rural Development will award Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) with a $655,580 Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant to support its efforts to provide the highest quality programming to Maine viewers statewide, many of whom are located in very rural areas.

Specifically, the grant will be used to replace and update equipment including video servers, routers, encoding, programming software, and other technologies that assist MPBN in providing high definition programming. Included in the upgrades will be the ability to provide HD Closed Captioning for programs that are produced locally in Maine.

USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, “I am so pleased to award Maine Public Broadcasting Network with this grant that is so essential to its operations, and that USDA Rural Development can play a role in ensuring people in Maine’s rural communities have access to quality public programming.”

Maine Public Broadcasting Network Senior Vice President Gil Maxwell said, “This grant provides the critical funding required to produce locally originated High Definition programming about and for Maine, and supports MPBN in our ability to provide all Maine citizens, rural and urban, what they expect - the best programming in the highest quality available.”

MPBN is one of 14 broadcasting networks nationwide receiving funding to complete digital TV conversion projects for a total of $6,180,188 invested in public television stations. The program provides equipment funding to public stations that serve substantial rural populations. The grants will support digital transition efforts, which include replacing outdated transmission equipment in isolated rural areas.

In Maine, USDA Rural Development has Area Offices located in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, and Scarborough, as well as a State Office, located in Bangor. There are 83 employees working to deliver the agency’s Housing, Business, and Community Programs, which are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, and farmers, and improve the quality of life in rural Maine. In Fiscal Year 2010, USDA Rural Development invested over $450 million, including leveraged funds, in the state of Maine. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development's website: www.rurdev.usda.gov/me.

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