OLYMPIA — Rep. Chris Stearns (D-Auburn) recognizes the important role public broadcasting stations play in rural and urban communities across the state, from disaster resource coordination efforts to promoting local artists, these stations are a lifeline for many.
HB 2579, introduced by Rep. Stearns, would implement a 20 cent per month surcharge on cell phone lines to fund grants and awards that would be administered to public broadcasting stations across the state to help cover the financial gap from federal funding cuts earlier this year.
Local broadcast stations like KEXP in Seattle, KSPS in Spokane, and KDNA in Yakima have all experienced loss of funding and this bill would help those stations continue producing content for the thousands of listeners across Washington.
Testifiers will include Skyler Reep (Interim GM & Development Director, KSPS PBS Spokane), David Fischer (President/General Manager, KNKX Seattle), Kevin Sur (Host of Sounds of Survivance on KEXP, and Founder of Artist Home) and others.
Who: Rep. Chris Stearns
What: Public Hearing for HB 2579 in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development & Veterans
When: Friday, January 30 at 10:30AM
Where: House Hearing Room C, John L O’Brien Building