SENATOR WILLIAMS APPOINTED TO SERVE AS MEMBER OF PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC TELEVISION NETWORK COMMISSION

HARRISBURG, February 6, 2002 - -Senator Connie Williams (D-Montgomery/Delaware) has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Public Television Network Commission by Senator Robert J. Mellow (D-Lackawanna) who is the Democratic Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate.

The Pennsylvania Public Television Network (PPTN) is an independent agency of state government. PPTN serves millions of Pennsylvanians who watch public television by linking Pennsylvania’s public television stations in a statewide program delivery system, and by providing grants to member stations for operations and programming.

PPTN oversees the activities of the statewide network that provides financial grants in support of the eight public television stations that serve the Commonwealth. Additionally, PPTN operates a two-way fiber optic network that links those stations, which are located in Erie, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Harrisburg, Allentown, State College and Philadelphia.

“As the Democratic Chair of the Senate Communications and High Technology Committee and as a member of the Senate Education Committee, I believe I can bring a broad spectrum of experience and knowledge to the Pennsylvania Public Television Network,” Williams said.

“In fact, one of my earliest jobs was to answer viewer mail at NBC.”

Senator Williams has also been reappointed to serve as a member of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee and Senate Finance Committee.