Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Public Broadcast Foundation Records
Date(s)
Extent
5 boxes
(2.9 cubic feet)
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Public Broadcast Foundation was formed in the late 1970s in an the unsuccessful attempt to save the public status of Channel 13 in Tacoma. [1] In 1979, Channel 13 was sold by Clover Park School District, who had originally bought the channel out of bankruptcy in 1975, and operated it as a public station. [2] The school received an offer from a private company and decided to sell the station at a profit. This was opposed my members of the community, who formed the citizen action group Save-Our-Station-13 (SOS-13) which organized and attempted to find other public buyers to purchase the station, such as local Community Colleges, to keep it operating as public. This incited a large community debate in which the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) had to decide if the sale was allowed, and SOS-13 filed a petition. Ultimately, the School district was able to sell the channel to Kelly Broadcasting Co. Of Sacramento, California in 1979 for a sum of $6.25 million dollars, and used the money from the sale to build a new high school. [3]
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
Includes information related to the Public Broadcast Foundation and SOS-13 (Save Our Station 13) and their effort to prevent the private sale of the public channel 13.By-laws, correspondence, citizen petitions, meeting minutes, and correspondence are included.