SF4889

Purpose

This bill changes who can get state grants for noncommercial educational radio stations in Minnesota and provides a one-time appropriation to support these stations’ operations and efficiency efforts.

Main provisions

• Amends Minnesota Statutes to update eligibility for state grants to noncommercial radio stations.
• Requires the station to have an FCC noncommercial license (Class A or C FM or Class C or D AM) and excludes some FCC classifications (Class L1 and LP100) from eligibility.
• Stations must be Minnesota-based and operate as noncommercial educational stations.

Eligibility criteria (Subdivision 3)

To qualify for a grant: - The station must hold a valid FCC license for a noncommercial station (as described above) and be located in Minnesota, operating as a noncommercial educational station. - Must have facilities adequate for local program production and origination. - Must employ at least two full-time professional staff (or the equivalent in part-time staff) and agree to maintain at least two full-time staff (or the equivalent) for the grant year. - Must maintain a minimum daily broadcast schedule: - Either the maximum allowed by the FCC license, or - 12 hours/day in year 1, 15 hours/day in year 2, and 18 hours/day in year 3 and beyond (with programming scheduled for 365 days a year or the maximum days allowed by the FCC license, allowing for power outages and natural disasters). - Must have a daily schedule focused on programming that serves educational, informational, or cultural needs within its primary signal area; however, schedules that are mainly religious programming (25% or more) or primarily designed for in-school or professional in-service audiences do not meet this criterion. - Must originate significant locally produced programming for its community of license. - Must have total annual operating income and budget of at least $50,000. - Must have a community-based governance structure, such as a board of directors representing the community or a publicly open community advisory board. - The board must meet openness requirements: meetings related to management or operation must be open to the public, and attendees should not be required to register or disclose identifying information to attend. - Must meet all criteria (1–10) for at least six months before becoming eligible for state assistance.

Audit and verification

• The commissioner may accept an audit from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) if available.
• If CPB is not available or the station is not CPB-funded, an independent audit is required to verify eligibility, particularly for the affordability/information in the governance criteria.
• If CPB and independent audits are not available, the commissioner may accept a written eligibility declaration signed by an independent auditor, a certified public accountant, or the CEO of the station’s parent organization.

Funding and appropriation

• Sec. 2 specifies a one-time appropriation of $165,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of administration.
• This money is for grants to the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations to provide resources, software, training, and assistance to help member stations consolidate resources and expenses.

Effects on existing law

• Establishes new or tightened eligibility criteria for state grants to noncommercial educational radio stations.
• Adds explicit requirements around staffing, hours, local and educational programming, governance, and public accessibility of meetings.
• Introduces a CPB/audit verification pathway and a fallback written declaration option.
• Creates a targeted, one-time funding mechanism to support regional public educational radio coordination and efficiency.

Relevant terms - noncommercial radio station grants - FCC license - Class A FM / Class C FM / Class C AM / Class D AM - Class L1 and LP100 (not eligible) - Minnesota-based / community in Minnesota - noncommercial educational station - local program production / origination - full-time staff / full-time equivalents (FTE) - hours of broadcasting (12, 15, 18 hours per day by year) - educational informational cultural programming - religious programming (limits on eligibility) - community board / community advisory board - public meetings open to the public - Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) audit - independent audit / CPA / CEO declaration - Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations - one-time appropriation / general fund - resources, software, training, assistance - consolidation of resources and expenses