MPBN delays tower shutdown, awaits funding legislation

The Maine Public Broadcasting Network is delaying a planned shutdown of its radio transmitter in Fort Kent and its radio and television transmitters in Calais until at least February 28. That decision was made on January 6 after Governor John Baldacci met with MPBN President and CEO James Dowe and the governor said he couldn't accept MPBN's decision to shut down the two towers. That afternoon, Dowe appeared before the legislature's Appropriations and Education committees and testified that the closure would be put off from January 15 until February 28.

"Our hopes are buoyed somewhat by the many discussions that have taken place with local officials in Fort Kent and Calais, state officials and our audience and members, and we owe it to the people living in those areas to leave the transmitters on long enough to see where these discussions might lead," stated Dowe in a press release. "We said from the start when we made the announcement in December that this was a measure of last resort that we wish had not been necessary. MPBN is willing to continue bearing the cost of running the transmitters to allow enough time not only to address the short-term issue of the impending tower shutdown but commitments to MPBN in future funding cycles."

MPBN faces a revenue shortfall of about $1 million, and it would save about $71,000 by shutting down the two towers. The proposed state budget would reduce funding for MPBN by $116,000. The total state appropriation is over $2 million.

Senator Kevin Raye of Perry, the Senate minority leader, has submitted a bill entitled "An Act to Preserve Statewide Public Broadcasting" to the legislature that would require Maine Public Broadcasting to operate all of its towers in order to receive any state funding. If passed, the bill "would require the towers to come back on line and would prevent this from happening the future," says Raye.

Raye says that early on the morning of January 6 he contacted the governor's office to make him aware of his bill and requested a meeting with the governor to discuss his concerns. "In response, the governor called MPBN's CEO Jim Dowe into his office and made it clear that he supports my position and cannot accept MPBN's decision. [The] governor told Mr. Dowe that he must find alternative cost-savings and assured Mr. Dowe that he will work with him to help identify them."

Raye says he will be working with the governor's office to make sure that funding is obtained for MPBN and that all of its towers remain in use.