$95K state grant to fund public access TV in Cambria County
Local leaders join with Rep. Burns to bring back community programming
Rep. Frank Burns July 29, 2026 | 10:37 AM
JOHNSTOWN, July 29 — Thanks to a $95,000 state grant obtained by state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, local residents will once again be able to watch community access television which airs public meetings, church services, educational and non-profit programming.
And it’s a perfect example of community members and a local official working together to make something good happen, according to the parties involved.
The state funding was recently awarded for the operational support of a public access television channel. It was needed after Breezeline decided to stop airing community access television, said Dr. Rick Bukoski, professor of Communications and Media Studies at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, which is involved in the new effort.
Bukoski said community members, including representatives from several churches, joined together to discuss how to restore the public access programming, then reached out to the community college for assistance. Breezeline agreed to provide the channel, but the group needed funds for the computer system that handles the programming, which is a big expense.
That’s where Burns entered the picture. The group contacted Burns about state funding opportunities, and he was very cooperative, Bukoski said.
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“(Rep. Burns) was great. He was very helpful and he understood all the issues involved.” – The Rev. Matthew Baum, St. John Gualbert Cathedral
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“He said he’d do everything possible to make this happen,” Bukoski said.
The new community access programming is expected to be up and running in September, according to Bukoski.
“We’re very excited about this opportunity,” Bukoski said. “A lot of people felt bad when it left.”
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“The future of this community channel is to go beyond church services, having college students cover local sporting events, student news segments and public meetings – all highlighting our area. Projects like this often need state funding to get off the ground. That's why I’m always willing to go to bat for the community and fight for funding to improve our community.” – Rep. Burns
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The Rev. Matthew Baum of St. John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown was among those who were disappointed when Breezeline made the decision, but now he said he’s excited that a community access channel will once again be showing what’s going on in Johnstown.
“That, I think, is a big deal,” Father Baum said.
Along with Bukoski, Father Baum credited Burns for his help securing the state funding.
“He was great,” Baum said. “He was very helpful and he understood all the issues involved.”
Burns said he was happy to be part of the community effort.
“The future of this community channel is to go beyond church services, having college students cover local sporting events, student news segments and public meetings – all highlighting our area,” Burns said. “Projects like this often need state funding to get off the ground. That's why I’m always willing to go to bat for the community and fight for funding to improve our community.”
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