HERSHEY (June 22, 2007) – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana, D-Pittsburgh, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Public Television Network (PPTN) Commission by Senate Democratic Minority Leader Robert Mellow.
“As someone deeply involved in my own Brookline community in Pittsburgh, I appreciate the strong community roots maintained by our state’s eight public television stations. I look forward to the opportunity to leverage state support to this last stronghold of community controlled media.”
In January, Sen. Fontana began serving his first full term as State Senator from the 42nd District, after being elected to the post in a May 2005 special election to fill a vacant seat. He serves as Minority Chair of the Game and Fisheries Committee. He is also a member of the State Government Committee, Local Government Committee, Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Democratic Policy Committee. He also is a member of the Senate’s Biotech and Life Sciences Caucus and serves as an appointed member of the Pittsburgh Sports & Exhibition Authority.
A former member of Allegheny County Council, Sen. Fontana has deep roots in the Pittsburgh community as a leader, organizer and volunteer for economic development, business and nonprofit organizations.
“Wayne Fontana understands grass roots,” said PPTN Chairman Tony May in welcoming the Senator to the panel. “He is well positioned to help public television stations meet the mandate to serve their communities as only locally-led and locallymanaged organizations can.”
Sen. Fontana joins 21 other appointees on the Commission, which is the policy and decision-making board for PPTN. PPTN is a technology service and grant-making agency to eight PPTN member public television stations. The network is committed to advancing educational, cultural and civic opportunities and supporting public safety.
PPTN is accountable for Commonwealth funds appropriated to it by the General Assembly and supports its member media organizations in their service to the citizens of the Commonwealth.