Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) today announced that Michigan Television in Flint has been awarded a federal grant from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB) of $156,845 to aid in the purchase and installation of digital broadcasting equipment.  This week’s grant brings more federal dollars to Flint as WFUM has received federal grants for the digital transition in excess of $1 million since 2001.

“Michigan Television continues to contribute significantly to our community by providing educational, instructional and cultural programs,” said Kildee, a member of the House Public Broadcasting Caucus.  “These federal funds will enhance the ability of WFUM-TV to offer quality programming to residents in mid-Michigan in the 21^st century.”

WFUM, operated by the University of Michigan – Flint since 1980, will use the funds to purchase and install equipment to prepare for the transfer of digital broadcasts from channel 52 to channel 28 in compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.

CPB awarded $22 million in grants across the country this week to help public broadcast systems bear the cost of the FCC “rechannelization” process.  A large number of public television stations initially converted to FCC-assigned stations, but these stations must again switch to meet revised FCC guidelines.  The cost of the nationwide rechannelization program is estimated to be $75 million.

The mandated digital television transition will take effect nationwide on February 17, 2009.