Top Telecommunications & Media Advocate Lawrence R. Sidman Named President of the Association of Public Television Stations

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — At a time of great change for America’s local public television stations, the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) has chosen long-time media advocate Lawrence R. Sidman as president and CEO. Sidman’s vision, judgment, leadership ability, and longtime commitment to public television stations and the communities they serve make him the right person to lead public television into its digital future.

Sidman is leaving his partnership at the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP and his role as Chairman of its Government Affairs practice group to take the helm of APTS on February 1. He has established himself as one of our country’s leading communications law attorneys and government relations practitioners over several decades. He was elected a member of the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers by the consumer electronics industry. Sidman served as Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the late 1980s.

“Larry has enjoyed a close working relationship with APTS for more than a decade, fighting side by side with the APTS staff in legislative and regulatory matters covering appropriations, the digital transition, editorial independence and CPB reauthorization,” said APTS Board Chair John Hesse. “We are very fortunate to have Larry lead APTS at this critical time in public television’s history.”

As the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress convene, public television faces serious funding challenges because of the broad and deep economic downturn. At the same time, this is a critical opportunity for public television stations to lay the foundation for public service media in the digital age. “Because of the new leadership in Washington and the economic and technological changes affecting all media providers, the 111th Congress is perhaps the most important Congress for us since the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was created,” Sidman said.

Sidman concluded: “I am honored and excited by the opportunity to lead public television stations — one of our nation’s great informational and cultural treasures — as the Administration and the Congress consider policies directly impacting our ability to fulfill our mission of localism, diversity and education in the digital era.”

SOURCE Association of Public Television Stations