Anchorage Daily News

Alaska's biggest public broadcasting outlets are considering an idea of uniting their operations to address both a tough economic climate and a change in the way consumers get information, said Steve Lindbeck, president and general manager of Alaska Public Telecommunications Inc. Lindbeck said the general managers of APTI -- which runs the Alaska Public Radio Network, KAKM-TV and KSKA-FM in Anchorage -- and of KUAC in Fairbanks and KTOO in Juneau have been working for several months with Livingston Associates, a national firm that specializes in public broadcasting.

Livingston recently completed a report that outlines the opportunities should the public broadcasters unite. These include cost efficiencies, a better ability to invest in emerging media to deliver information and a unified voice to advocate for public broadcasting in Alaska.

"We need to protect the core values, quality standards and deep local roots that have sustained public broadcasting in Alaska for more than 30 years," Lindbeck said.

The next step is to develop a plan for how unification could look in reality -- staffing levels, budget and where headquarters would be, Lindbeck said. If unification occurs, it could start as early as next July, he said.

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