Education joins television and radio as part of the organization’s mission.

When you think of Maine PBS or Maine Public Radio, what first comes to mind? Made in Maine? Maine Things Considered? National Teacher Training Institute?

Chances are, you guessed one of the first two suggestions. What you may not realize is that Maine Public Broadcasting goes beyond great television and radio and into the realm of good, old-fashion reading, writing and arithmetic.

Maine Public Broadcasting is a public service and an educational organization, and now even more so since we completed our conversion to digital. Today, we are diligently forming partnerships with many state, local and educational organizations to ensure the health and prosperity of the people of Maine.

Maine Public Broadcasting has expanded its commitment to education by strengthening programs in family literacy, lifelong learning, services to teachers and workforce training. As I travel the state speaking with civic groups, businesses and state government leaders, I carry the message that we are a valuable tool to promote higher education in Maine, through our increased digital channel options and our statewide accessibility.

Right now, through a partnership with the Maine Department of Education and Maine Department of Labor, Maine Public Broadcasting offers formal distance learning instruction on workplace skills and subjects related to the GED exam each weekday on the television stations of Maine PBS.

The series, Workplace Essential Skills, helps adults learn how to improve their standard of living with techniques to find a job or perform an existing job better. Another important series, GED Connections, covers the five major subject areas of the new GED exam. Both of these series have interactive components including video television programs, student classroom materials, Web-based lessons and online instruction.

These distance learning programs provide greater access to education, at no cost, to all adult learners in Maine. We plan to offer these, and similar programs, on our new multicast digital channels.

Maine Public Broadcasting’s National Teacher Training Institute (NTTI) trains teachers to integrate technology into the classroom. Entering its fourth year, NTTI provides professional development to kindergarten through grade-12 educators. The training is provided in coordination with the Maine Learning Results and National Learning Standards. Based on “teachers training teachers,” the annual program has directly provided training to more than 600 teachers in Maine.

One of the most exciting aspects of digital television is our ability to “multicast,” meaning that Maine PBS can deliver several channels simultaneously to your television. This will enable viewers to select any one of four channels being offered by Maine PBS. The four channels are programmed to greatly enhance the public services we provide to people throughout the state of Maine.

Maine PBS Kids is a channel dedicated full time to PBS children’s programs; Maine PBS You offers formal education and lifelong learning programs; Maine PBS is our regular schedule of locally and nationally produced programs, and Maine PBS Plus includes all your favorite nationally produced shows.

To ensure that we reach our goals, Maine Public Broadcasting has entered into the final stages of raising money for the public phase of our capital campaign called “More Connected. More Maine. The Campaign for Maine Public Broadcasting’s Programming.”

At $20.8 million, this has been the largest campaign in the history of our statewide service. Now only $1 million remains to be raised for a successful conclusion of this ambitious campaign.

“More Connected. More Maine. The Campaign for Maine Public Broadcasting’s Programming” will pay for locally produced television programs such as the science series QUEST and the Maine history series HOME, and statewide education seminars such as the National Teacher Training Institute. It will also add to an endowment that supports future programs and services.

When the voters of Maine approved the state bond issue in 1999 to fund a portion of the digital transition, Maine Public Broadcasting made a commitment to match those dollars. The organization has been working in earnest since that time to raise the necessary dollars.

The service is available now if you have a digital television, a set-top box for your analog set or if you subscribe to Time Warner Cable of Maine. Time Warner customers can get Maine PBS through the company’s digital service. As I write this, Adelphia is weeks away from making Maine PBS’ new channels available in the Augusta and Waterville areas.

As we enter into this final, public phase, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our members and friends in Lewiston/Auburn and the surrounding western Maine areas who have played an integral part in the campaign. Their generosity has been vital in the creation of digital television for all the people of Maine and beyond.

Mary Anne Alhadeff is president & CEO of Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation.