MPBN's Response to Governor’s Proposed Elimination of Funding

(Lewiston, Maine) – The Maine Public Broadcasting Network was disappointed to learn this week that Governor Paul LePage is once again recommending the elimination of 100% of state funding for MPBN, effective July 1, 2012. A similar proposal just last year was rejected by the Legislature.

The Governor’s supplemental budget proposal would eliminate, or zero out the entire amount of MPBN’s annual appropriation of $1.954 million, or 17% of its annual budget. MPBN has already taken a reduction of 13% in its appropriation from last year, or one quarter million dollars, effective July 1, 2012.

The Governor’s elimination of all of MPBN’s annual funding, President Mark Vogelzang notes “would obviously greatly affect MPBN’s ability to serve the state with our radio, television and digital services; there would be significant negative consequences. MPBN is already operating in a greatly reduced capacity from where we were just five years ago, and the organization has already taken its fair share of cuts in response to the fiscal challenges that the State faces.”

This annual appropriation provides funding to enable the statewide broadcast of MPBN services. A 1992 statute requires the State of Maine to “fund an annual appropriation for operating, constructing, equipping, maintaining, improving and replacing facilities of the corporation must be made in amounts sufficient to ensure delivery of broadcast sources throughout the State.” The Governor further proposed that this provision of the statute be eliminated as well.”

Vogelzang, quoting from the network’s mission statement, notes that the Maine Public Broadcasting Network’s mission is “to connect the people of Maine to each other and to the world through the open exchange of information, ideas and cultural content.” He adds, “For years, this has been a beneficial partnership between the State of Maine and our sole state-wide public broadcaster. This is a service that adds greatly to the quality of life for so many Maine residents, no matter where they are, no matter what their means.”

Public hearings on the Governor’s budget proposal before the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee are being held Monday through Wednesday of next week (March 19-21) in Augusta. MPBN’s’ position is to challenge this proposal on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Maine citizens who depend daily on the news and public affairs, music, and international content online and on our 7 radio and 5 television stations; as well as the educational non-commercial children’s programming, coverage of high school basketball, and the statewide technical backbone that provides emergency connection from the State to its citizens.

Vogelzang strongly urges Maine Public Broadcasting supporters and friends to call or visit their elected representatives as soon as possible to convey the value of MPBN radio, television and online services in their lives. He said, “We believe that there is strong bi-partisan support for MPBN in the legislature, and this is not the time or the place to try to harm public broadcasting.”

For a listing of Maine Representatives and contact information, visit mpbn.net. If you would like more information on next week’s hearing in Augusta call MPBN Audience Services at 800-884-1717.