Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

Ex-parks director leads KUAT gifts campaign

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Jim Ronstadt

After 30 years working with Tucson Parks and Recreation, Jim Ronstadt is now attempting to raise funds for KUAT Communications so the station can make the crucial conversion to digital transmission.

Ronstadt, a lifetime resident and fifth-generation Tucsonan, retired two years ago from a 32-year career as the director of Tucson Parks and Recreation and then took on the job at KUAT - local Channel 6 - earlier this month.

Ronstadt said he likes his new position, even though he described the location of KUAT - an affiliate of the Public Broadcasting System - as "the dungeons of the Modern Languages building."

Ronstadt, 58, is an 1980 graduate of the UA with a degree in business accounting and said he is enjoying his return to the campus.

"I felt I had a few more working years within me," he said.

As an associate director of development, his duties mostly consist of raising money to assist the channel to broadcast digitally, which many larger networks now do. The advancement allows for better sound and picture quality.

In order for KUAT to continue to broadcast, the channel must make the conversion by the year 2006, or it will be forced off the air by the Federal Communications Commission.

The channel will be looking to three main areas for funding - the federal government, the Arizona state Legislature and local citizens.

Ronstadt will concentrate on the private citizen sector because of his familiarity with the community and individuals who can donate a portion of the amount necessary.

With his long history of community work, Ronstadt has "identified those who are capable of donating sizable amounts to KUAT," he said.

Due to severe economic hardships, officials from KUAT and KAET - the Tempe PBS affiliate - asked the state Legislature for a $2.9 million endowment in February. The stations were denied the grant.

This year, the stations will again lobby the Legislature for funding.

KUAT Director and General Manager Jack Parris said the channels will request a dual package of $5 million, allowing $2.5 million for each station.

Earlier this month, KUAT received a $141,766 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, given by U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz. The funding will be used to purchase digital field equipment like cameras, VCRs and a digital TV server. The equipment will be used in the station's master control area.

Kolbe referred to this grant as "a modest but vital step" in the funding necessary to make the conversion to digital.