Guest Opinion

Save Idaho Public Television

By Jerry L. Evans, Guest Writer, 1-26-10

As a longtime advocate and supporter of Idaho Public Television, I am more than troubled by Governor Otter’s proposal to phase out all state support for IPTV.  During my sixteen-year tenure as state superintendent of public instruction I saw firsthand how this important asset was used to enhance the curriculum and enrich classroom instruction for students across the entire state.

I also observed how public television’s broad mission to educate, inform and entertain was carried to every region of our state and how critically important it became to our smaller communities and rural areas.  Any thought that a more market-driven approach to raising additional private contributions could continue the statewide system is simply unrealistic.  The state has made a multi-million dollar investment in the IPTV network that provides quality service for the entire gamut of our population from early childhood, to teenagers, young adults, parents and senior citizens.  Even legislators, who will need to make a determination about the importance of continuing the statewide system, make great use of IPTV. 

No other media organization in our large, diverse and still very rural state provides access, information, and the opportunity for all Idaho residents to participate in their state government (particularly the Legislature).

The state’s current $1.7 million contribution to public television primarily maintains the system’s 42 translator sites, allowing public television to reach nearly every corner of Idaho. Without continuing state support, virtually all of these sites, providing programming to every corner of the state, will cease to operate.

The suggestion has been made that Idaho Public Television raise more private support, even though the system currently generates about 62% of its support from private sources – primarily thousands of Idahoans who make an annual contribution. It would be impossible to replace the loss of state financial support. An analysis of peer systems indicates that Idaho is already outperforming other public television operations in terms of its ability to gather public and corporate support.

I’ve been around state government a long time and I know legislators face tough decisions and many demands and it would be unrealistic to believe that IPTV can be held harmless from further holdback or budget reductions.  IPTV should not be treated more favorably than other state agencies or be exempt from today’s economic reality, but the system doesn’t deserve to be dismantled.  I do understand that every dollar can only be spent once and how each agency’s budget impacts the public school appropriation, and I certainly have grave concerns there as well.

If you agree with me and thousands of other Idaho that Idaho Public Television is – and should remain – a valuable, statewide resource, the legislature needs to hear from you.

A website has been created by the Friends of Idaho Public Television to provide information and a quick and convenient way to let legislators know how you feel.  Please take a moment and help us Save Idaho Public Television.

Jerry L. Evans, a Republican, served as Idaho’s Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1979-1995.  He is the volunteer spokesman for the campaign to Save Idaho Public Television.

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