Udall, Heinrich Announce Funding To Improve Public Television Access For Zuni Pueblo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced $65,000 in federal grant funding to improve public television reception in rural areas of McKinley County. The grant, made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Public Television Digital Transition Grant Program, will allow New Mexico PBS to replace its existing analog system and install a new low-power digital translator for the KNME-TV Zuni Pueblo Digital Television Project, which provides service to the Zuni Pueblo area. 

“No part of New Mexico should miss out on free, broadcast television due to the transition to digital TV,” Udall said.  “Stations like New Mexico PBS consistently provide high-quality content, including educational shows, children’s programming, and documentaries that bring history and science to life for the whole family.  I am pleased that this grant will extend the benefits of digital television to residents of Zuni Pueblo.”

“Strengthening telecommunications and broadband access across New Mexico, particularly in our rural and tribal communities, helps boost the economy and plays an important role in public safety and civic engagement,” Heinrich said. “These investments are critical to ensuring public television stations have the resources they need to reach every community.”

Currently, KNME-TV's signal transmitter cannot reach remote areas of McKinley County. Replacing this system will help ensure the community receives KNME-TV's high-definition digital service, including the Spanish-language channel Vme.