PRINTER'S NO. 1774
No. 241 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY WONDERLING, FONTANA, FERLO, MUSTO, BAKER, PUNT,
BOSCOLA, KASUNIC, M. WHITE, DINNIMAN, C. WILLIAMS, RAFFERTY,
WOZNIAK, MELLOW, TARTAGLIONE, GORDNER, ROBBINS, TOMLINSON,
PIPPY, O'PAKE, McILHINNEY, PILEGGI, ERICKSON, REGOLA,
PICCOLA, KITCHEN, LAVALLE, ORIE, GREENLEAF, COSTA, STACK AND
RHOADES, FEBRUARY 12, 2008
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, FEBRUARY 12, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the Pennsylvania Public Television Network on the
2 occasion of its 40th anniversary.
3 WHEREAS, The Public Television Network System Law established
4 the Pennsylvania Public Television Network Commission (PPTN) as
5 an independent executive commission of the Commonwealth
6 government; and
7 WHEREAS, The mission of PPTN is to facilitate and encourage
8 the growth and development of noncommercial and educational
9 television broadcasting and programming; and
10 WHEREAS, The roots and origins of public television in the
11 United States can be traced back to this Commonwealth with the
12 formation of the nation's first public television station, WQED,
13 in Pittsburgh; and
14 WHEREAS, The name of this Commonwealth's own Fred Rogers is
15 synonymous with public broadcasting across the United States,
16 and the rich tradition of public programming continues within
1 this Commonwealth; and
2 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's public broadcasting network has
3 grown to eight stations, namely WQLN based in Erie, WQED based
4 in Pittsburgh, WPSU based at University Park, WITF based in
5 Harrisburg, WVIA based in Pittston, WLVT based in Bethlehem and
6 WHYY and WYBE based in Philadelphia; and
7 WHEREAS, With more than 40 years of operations and service,
8 PPTN has grown to serve up to 12 million viewers in this
9 Commonwealth from all 67 counties and parts of all surrounding
10 states and Canada; and
11 WHEREAS, The vital services of public television have been
12 strengthened through digital service that will avail
13 Pennsylvanians with opportunities to learn more, be more
14 informed and receive high quality educational, public safety and
15 entertainment programming through high-definition broadcasting
16 and datacasting services; therefore be it
17 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the 40th anniversary of
18 PPTN and congratulate it on its contributions to the citizens of
19 this Commonwealth; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize that PPTN, through its
21 network and eight stations, comprises this Commonwealth's only
22 Statewide, noncommercial resource for quality television
23 programming; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize March 11, 2008, as
25 "Pennsylvania Public Television Network Day" in Pennsylvania in
26 recognition of the value of public television as a fundamental
27 and essential contributor to our educational system and as a
28 vehicle for the advancement of other public purposes, benefiting
29 the citizens of this Commonwealth; and be further
30 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
20080S0241R1774 - 2 -
1 the Pennsylvania Public Television Network and to each of the
2 eight stations that are part of the network.
A30L82SFL/20080S0241R1774 - 3 -