PND (2/15/2000) -- Carnegie Corporation and Century Foundation Announce Digital Broadcasting Initiative

The Carnegie Corporation of New York and the New York City-based Century Foundation have joined forces in a new initiative designed to help "fulfill the promise of American public radio and television for the digital and Internet age." Century and Carnegie have appointed Newton N. Minow, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, and Lawrence K. Grossman, former president of NBC News and PBS, to lead the project, which will forge alliances between public service media and educational institutions. In addition, the project, to be known as Digital Promise, will produce specific policy recommendations for the future mission, structure, and financing of public radio and television.

Digital Promise will build upon the Twentieth Century Fund's 1993 Report of the Task Force on the Future of Public Television, which was chaired by Vartan Gregorian, now president of the Carnegie Corporation.

"The Internet and new digital telecommunications technologies are challenging every aspect of radio and television," said Gregorian. "We believe the new technology should serve the public interest. This work will help inform future public policy decisions."

To develop its recommendations, the project will engage and consult with civic and political leaders and representatives from educational institutions, libraries and museums, the arts and public health communities, minority groups, and the public broadcasting community.

FCnote: The Carnegie Corporation of New York (NY) had assets of $1,441,675,860 and made grants totaling $36,820,845 in the fiscal year ending 9/30/98.

FCnote: The Century Foundation (NY) had assets of $62,393,676 and made grants totaling $81,400 in the fiscal year ending 6/30/97.

"The Carnegie Corporation and the Century Foundation Announce New Project on Fulfilling the Promise of Public Service Telecommunications in the Digital and Internet Age." Century Foundation Press Release 2/7/2000.

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