Vermont broadcasters describe emergency-alert role, workforce pipelines and community work

Wendy Mays, executive director of the Vermont Association of Broadcasters, told the Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee on Jan. 28 that Vermont’s over-the-air radio and television stations play a central role in emergency communications, local news and community support.

Mays said the state has “over 100” stations and described three core public benefits: local content and newsrooms, emergency communications via the Emergency Alert System, and support for nonprofit fundraising and community events. She also outlined workforce efforts, including paid internships and scholarships intended to recruit young people into broadcasting.

The presentation provided context for the committee’s early work on emergency-response legislation and signaled future briefings with the Department of Public Safety. Representative Rupert Brogan and other members asked about community radio and emergency information distribution during the discussion that followed.

Mays described station counts and formats as follows: more than 100 stations in the state, including nine television stations and 91 radio stations. Of the radio stations she listed, 57 are commercial, 15 are public (part of the Vermont Public network), six are community, four are college and nine are religious. Mays also said four broadcast newsrooms produce about 90 hours a week of local news across the state.

On workforce development, Mays said the Vermont Association of Broadcasters (VAB) offers paid internships and subsidies aimed at getting young people into broadcasting. She said the VAB provides $1,800 to a station to hire a student intern, and that the association awards scholarships and sits on career-and-technical-education advisory committees in St. Albans and Springfield. The transcript included an unclear statement about scholarship recipients; the VAB noted five college scholarships but did not specify an exact annual recipient count.

Mays emphasized broadcasters’ emergency role: federal, state and local agencies such as the National Weather Service, Vermont Emergency Management and the Vermont State Police use the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to relay time-sensitive information. She cited amber alerts for missing children and blue alerts for officers in danger as examples of messages carried through that network. Mays told the committee that broadcast remains especially reliable in areas with poor cell or broadband service and when power outages make other channels inaccessible.

She also described broadcasters’ contributions to nonprofit fundraising and community outreach, saying stations regularly organize drives for cash, food, clothing and blood donations and air many public-service announcements. Mays highlighted the VAB’s events and awards programs, including a Hall of Fame and an annual awards gala and a rebranded “VAB Summer School” professional event.

Committee members said they expect to continue conversations about emergency communications as they draft bills. Mays indicated the VAB can be a resource as the committee develops emergency-response work and noted that the committee has a draft request for that topic. The committee chair said the Department of Public Safety will brief the committee on Thursday as part of that work.

The presentation was introductory and informational; no formal action, vote or ordinance was taken during this portion of the session.

Looking ahead, committee members signaled plans for more detailed hearings on emergency communications and community radio. Mays said the VAB will return to offer further information as the committee develops legislation.