Authority: Title 2.1, Chapter 35.2, Articles 1 through 6, Code of Virginia.

A. Out of this program shall be expended $2,962,076 the first year and $2,962,076 the second year for community service grants to public television stations and $527,477 the first year and $527,477 the second year for community service grants to public radio stations. Grants to public television stations shall be used to develop, acquire, produce and deliver programs and services which support pre-school and adult education, disseminate information on governmental and public affairs issues, promote tourism and economic development within the Commonwealth, and inform, educate, and entertain families with program content which offers alternatives to commercialized television programming.

B. The funds herein appropriated are to be administered by the Virginia Public Telecommunications Board in accordance with such rules and regulations as it may prescribe provided that: (1) the Virginia Public Telecommunications Board shall certify that recipients of the community service grants provided for in paragraph A of this item are noncommercial radio and television stations that are qualified to receive community service grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and whose offices, studios and transmitters are located in the Commonwealth, and (2) it shall carry out its purposes and functions and engage in its activities in ways that will most effectively assure the maximum freedom of the aforesaid noncommercial radio and television entities and systems from interference with, or control of, program content or other activities.

C. Community service grants to public television and public radio stations shall be paid in equal quarterly installments.

D. Out of this program shall be paid $270,330 in the first year to WVPT in Harrisonburg, as the state share of funding that must be matched in cash or in-kind in an amount equal to the state share, for equipment improvements.