[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18313-18314]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  CONGRATULATING GUAM'S PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION, KGTF, ON ITS 30TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 18, 2000

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, there is at least one generation in my 
district who grew to

[[Page 18314]]

adulthood with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, and the Cookie 
Monster. Although they have probably turned their attention to Nova, 
Masterpiece Theater, Mystery! and other more adult television fare, 
their children are now tuning into Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, Mr. 
Rogers, Teletubbies, and, of course, Barney, thanks to KGTF, Channel 
12, Guam's Public Television Station.
  Unlike in times past, when KGTF competed for viewers with only one 
commercial television station, Guam now enjoys the great variety of 
programming--but not C-Span, I regret--provided by cable television. As 
the debate rages here in our nation about the increasing number of 
cable channels and independent networks and the declining quality of 
television programming, public television remains unscathed by 
criticism. In Guam, as here in the States, viewers can always count on 
high quality shows that are educational as well as entertaining, thanks 
to KGTF. Despite the overwhelming programming choices available, 24 
hours a day, on a multitude of channels, the people of Guam have not 
abandoned KGTF. As viewers, they tune in time and time again, to watch 
their favorite shows, shows that air only on public television. As 
supporters of public television, they open their wallets year after 
year, to give what they can so that KGTF can continue to serve them.
  Mr. Speaker, on October 30, KGTF will celebrate its 30th anniversary. 
In a place in which commercial television has been available for just 
over 40 years, KGTF's longevity is not so much a testament to our 
social addition to television in general, but to the visionary leaders 
of Guam who established public television in Guam and to the people of 
Guam who have continued to support it successfully throughout the 
years. KGTF signed on the air for the first time on October 30, 1970, 
with a grant for $150,000 from the U.S. Department of Health, Education 
and Welfare and $50,000 from the Government of Guam. It had only five 
employees who operated out of an old Butler building in Mangilao. In 
1974, the 12th Guam Legislature passed P.L. 12-194, establishing the 
Guam Educational Telecommunications Corporation, a nonprofit public 
corporation to operate KGTF. In 1997 KGTF won the Guam Developmental 
Disabilities Council's Media Representative of the Year award for its 
outstanding services and sensitivity to Guam's disabled community. In 
1999, the Micronesia Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists 
awarded the station its Professional Achievement and Performance Award 
for outstanding community service.
  Today, KGTF's annual budget is a little over $1 million. The funding 
is provided by the Government of Guam, the federal Community Service 
Grant and private donations. Through good economic times and bad, the 
people of Guam have never allowed KGTF to sign off the air. This, I 
believe, is an indication of its value to the community, to a desire it 
fulfills, and to a service it renders. In 1991, the station purchased a 
remote broadcast van and in 1994 constructed a large station facility, 
both of which were funded entirely by contributions.
  I am proud to congratulate KGTF's Board of Trustees, Chairman Carlos 
Baretto, Vice Chairwoman Joleen Flores, Dan Tinsay and Ariel Dimalanta, 
on the quality of their guidance and leadership. And I gratefully 
commend General Manager Ginger Underwood, Operations Manager Benny 
Flores, Engineer Mesegei Diaz, Administrative Officer Lorraine 
Hernandez, Accounting Technician Tina Poblete, Program Coordinator Dois 
Gallo, Program Assistant Vickey Manglona, Development Director Sonia 
Suobiron, Development Assistant Mary Perez, Production Manager John 
Muna, Studio Supervisor Edmond Cheung, Broadcast Technician Rodney 
Sapp, Camera Operators Mike Lizama, Curb Crisostomo and Shingpe Wang, 
and Master Control Operators Jason Fernandez, Reynald La Puebla and 
Seigfred Cabanday for making it all happen.
  Si Yu'os ma'ase, hamyo todos. Maolek che'cho'-miyo para i taotao-ta. 
Long live KGTF!

                          ____________________