LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of WCNY,
Central New York's Public Media Company

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
outstanding organizations within our midst that have consistently
contributed to the excellence of education within our communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 50th Anniversary of WCNY, Central New York's Public Media
Company; and
WHEREAS, WCNY was launched in 1965 and chartered by the New York State
Department of Education as the Public Broadcasting Council of Central
New York; and
WHEREAS, WCNY is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization and a member-
supported affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service; and
WHEREAS, WCNY was originally known as "The Education Station," but it
has dramatically expanded its services throughout 19 counties over the
past 50 years; and
WHEREAS, During its 50-year history, WCNY has also expanded to include
five digital television channels; WCNY, Create, World and Plus channels
are now available to more than 1.8 million people; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, WCNY has grown from a single classical music
station (Classic FM) to three digital radio stations that broadcast
24-hour jazz and oldies on its Jazz HD and Oldies HD stations, as well
as The Capitol Pressroom, a daily one-hour radio program from the State
Capitol which features interviews with newsmakers on various important
state issues; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, WCNY moved operations from its longtime home in
Liverpool, New York, to a new, state-of-the-art Broadcast and Education
Center on Syracuse's Near Westside; and
WHEREAS, This new facility features two large television studios where
Artifex, Double Down, Financial Fitness, Insight, Ivory Tower, and
several other local television programs are recorded for high-definition
broadcast; in addition, the building includes two new radio studios and
10 audio and video production suites; and
WHEREAS, The facility is also home to the Joint Master Control Operat-
ing Company, a WCNY-owned company that manages television program
distribution for all the New York and New Jersey public broadcasting
companies; and
WHEREAS, As part of its educational mission, WCNY recently launched
Enterprise America, a hands-on experiential learning center for school-
aged children, located inside WCNY's facility on Syracuse's Near West-
side; the 10,000-square-foot center features businesses and service
companies which local students can run as part of their school course-
work; and
WHEREAS, For its continuous efforts within the Central New York commu-
nity, WCNY was the recipient of the CenterState CEO 2014 Business of the
Year Award; and
WHEREAS, For the past 50 years, WCNY has served as a public voice for
Central New York, connecting with the community by educating and enter-
taining the public with television and radio programming which encour-
ages a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and humanity; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of WCNY, Central New York's Public
Media Company; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to WCNY.