TRENTON – Senator Andrew Zwicker and Senator John Burzichelli, both members of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following joint statement in response to the Treasury Department’s plan to have Montclair State University assume management of New Jersey Public Broadcasting and the network’s four FCC-licensed television stations. The plan was submitted to the Legislature for its review:

“We welcome the attention the Treasury Department is giving to the status of the state’s public broadcasting system and the Administration’s recognition of the need to adopt a workable and sustainable plan to keep the network in operation. We will give the plan a thorough review.

“With the news industry experiencing serious challenges, it is vital that we identify resourceful and reliable ways to maintain the state’s public broadcasting system. That is why we have introduced legislation that would utilize a small portion of unused tax credits from the film and TV incentive program to provide support for public broadcasting and for the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium.

“NJ Public TV has a respected record of providing trusted news, educational programming and public information that has served the best interests of residents throughout the state for decades. At a time when the absence of reliable information can only contribute to a decline in civic trust and responsible public engagement, credible sources of news are vital.

“We want to do this right at this time so we don’t lose the opportunity to make the transition in the state’s public broadcasting services that will continue to meet the needs of our residents in the years ahead.”