Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Broadband Broadcasting And Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Idaho Public Television seeks one-time funds for mountaintop truck and $300,000 network equipment; lawmakers ask for plan
Summary
Idaho Public Television asked JFAC for one-time funds to replace a heavy-duty pickup used for mountaintop maintenance and to replace aging automation/network equipment ($300,000). Lawmakers questioned whether the vehicle estimate is realistic and asked for an itemized replacement plan for the network equipment.
Idaho Public Television told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Jan. 15 that it needs one-time funding to replace an aging heavy-duty pickup truck used to service mountaintop facilities in North Idaho and to replace end-of-life automation and broadcasting equipment in its network operations center.
Jeff Tucker, general manager of Idaho Public Television, said the agency requested a budgeted amount for a pickup that is close to the state’s vehicle replacement cap; committee staff and legislators questioned whether the capped amount (about $42,400 in the submission) will buy a heavy-duty pickup suitable for mountaintop winter service. “It will be lucky if there are any even available at that price,” Tucker said. He said the agency would plan to send the replaced vehicle to auction and try to stretch general fund allotments if they receive the appropriation.
Tucker described the $300,000 replacement item as a “replacement” rather than an expansion: an automation system built of Windows servers and proprietary components that records, plays back, routes and controls statewide television channels and emergency broadcast capability. The system is aging and the servers are no longer patchable, he said, explaining the need for replacement. “This is an automation system that’s proprietary, equipment, but built up of Windows OS servers…so that’s why that’s one reason we need to replace those is because they're not patchable anymore,” Tucker said.
Committee members asked for more specificity. Senator Sandra Cook asked for an itemized plan before approving a $300,000 appropriation; Tucker and staff agreed to provide a replacement plan tied to the agency’s 10-year equipment plan. Representative Tanner raised concerns about separation of state-funded infrastructure versus privately funded content production and asked how shared FTEs and emergency-broadcast responsibilities are divided; Tucker said general fund–supported engineers maintain statewide transmission and emergency alert capability while private funds support content production.
The presentation also included a staff acknowledgement: Dave Taylor, IPTV’s head of finance, was recognized on the record for his retirement. No formal vote was taken during the hearing; the requests were presented as one-time replacement items recommended by the governor and will be decided in the committee’s budget process.
