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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Papen

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/5/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Expand NMSU Radio & Television Stations

SB 134

ANALYST Leger

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$470.0 Non-Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB 135

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

New Mexico Higher Education Department (HED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 134 appropriates $470 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of

New Mexico State University for the purpose of expanding the public broadcasting radio and

television stations.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $470 thousand contained in this bill is a nonrecurring expense to the

general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall

revert to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

KRWG-TV and KRWG-FM the television and radio station of NMSU are seeking funds needed

for the digital conversion of broadcasting. According to HED the Federal Communication

Senate Bill 134 – Page

2

Commission (FCC) has mandated a planned phase-out of analog broadcasting. Without the

required conversion the stations runs the risk of losing its interference protection provided by the

FCC. In addition to the digital conversion the appropriation within SB 134 replace outdated

equipment, allows in-state travel through the geographic region served by the stations, and one

staff member.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Both stations serve the southern New Mexico region. According to NMSU, KRWG-FM

operates five translators whose signal extends to Silver City, Alamogordo, Truth or

Consequences, Lordsburg, and Deming. KRWG-TV has 11 translators; the signal extends to

Silver City, Alamogordo, Lordsburg, Deming, Truth or Consequences, Cliff-Gila, Hatch,

Hillsborough, Caballo, and other portions of Dona Ana county not covered by the main

transmitter.

The stations provide a learning environment for students in the department of journalism and

mass communications. Students are involved and often produce the news segments on air.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

SB 135 appropriates $80 thousand to NMSU to expand educational television services.

JL/nt