Channel 12, WTJX-TV, is the Virgin Islands’ Public Television System. On November 13, 1968, the Seventh Legislature of the Virgin Islands passed Act No. 2364 creating the Virgin Islands Public Television as an independent, autonomous instrumentality. The System is ran by a Board of Directors. An Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the System. The basic goal of the System is to advance the general welfare of the community through educational, cultural, and public affairs programming, local and national, for all the population of the Virgin Islands. The Station’s general policy is set by a local Board of Directors, with the assistance of an Advisory Council of local residents. Some oversight duties are exercised by the V.I. Government’s executive and legislative branches. The legislative branch appropriates and the executive branch allots approximately 85% of the funds necessary for the operation of the System. Like all public television stations, the System is eligible for funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (“CPB”), which is a private corporation created by the Federal government. It is the largest single source of funding for television and radio programming; and like all broadcast outlets, the System is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). Channel 12 is an affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service (“PBS”), a private, non-profit media enterprise, owned and operated by member stations which produces and distributes programs; a member of the National Association of Public TV Stations, the National Educational Telecommunications Association, the National Association of Broadcasters, The National Forum for Public Television Executives, Small Stations Association, National Black Programming Consortium, Public Service Satellite Consortium, and the Public Broadcasting Service. The System is operated through five divisions: Board of Directors, Administrative, Programming, Engineering, and Production/Operations The FCC granted the call letters WTJX: “T” for St. Thomas, “J” for St. John, and “X” for St. Croix, in 1971. On August 25, 1972, an inaugural ceremony was held at the transmitter site located at Mountain Top. Invited guests included FCC Commissioner, Benjamin Hooks, and PBS Producer, Ellis Haizlip, among others. However, it was not until August 29, 1972, that Channel 12 broadcast its first programming using videotapes, Monday through Friday, 4:00-11:00 p.m. In September of 1978, construction began on Channel 12’s satellite ground receiver, “The Big Dish” which is 51 feet in diameter. The first regular “live” broadcast schedule via satellite became a reality in the Virgin Islands on December 7, 1978. This event launched Channel 12 into the forefront of the then satellite broadcast decade of the ‘80’s. For 30 years, WTJX-TV Channel 12 has provided quality television-enriching lives, stimulating thinking, and increasing public understanding of our complex world. Light years ahead of the analog broadcast signal has been in use for more that 50 years, digital technology’s information compression techniques will allow the broadcast of many more programs addressing the specific needs and interests of Virgin Islanders. By converting to digital technology, WTJX will ensure that our culturally and socially diverse audience has access to free, locally-based, enriching programs and education services. WTJX-TV Channel 12’s Most Important First (1st) PBS station in the Caribbean offering national PBS and local programs to the area. Broadcast the 1st televised cricket game in 1973. 1st to regularly produce and air tennis tournaments on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Produced 1st weekly series, “Rigmarole”, spotlighting local performing talent in 1972. 1st LIVE coverage of Virgin Islands Carnival in 1975. 1st to regularly schedule locally produced children’s programs such as “Undah de Taman Tree” and the special “Up Mountain One Time” with local students. 1st to broadcast an educational games series, The Virgin Islands Quiz Bowl. 1st live circuit teleconference with telephone participation via satellite, for the V.I. Department of Health in 1979. The 1st to produce a local series on V.I. poet, Poets in Paradise, a two-part series, 1986-1989. 1st to return to the air after Hurricane Hugo in 1989—offering PBS, CNN, and other network news programs in cooperation with St. Thomas/St. John Cable Television. 1st to return to the air after the Virgin Islands was devastated by Hurricane Marilyn in 1995. WTJX became the flagship of the “Recovery Network”, broadcasting a locally produced disaster assistance series, “Recovery Review”. The Recovery Network was a partnership with the then St. Thomas-St. John Cable Television and Television Service programming. 1st to broadcast a live viewer-participation, instructional television homework series, “The Teacher Is In,” since 1998. 1st to broadcast a live interview from Washington D.C. with the Virgin Islands’ Delegate to Congress, Donna Christiansen, via satellite, on our locally produced series, “Face to Face with Addie Ottley” in 2000. 1st to broadcast closed-captioning to the hearing impaired for our locally produced programs, “Face to Face”, “Virgin Islanders Decide: Election 2000” and “Virgin Islanders Decide: Political Party Debate 2000” in 2000. 1st to broadcast “live”, the 1st pre-50th anniversary “night time” carnival parade in 2001. 1st to offer closed-captioning for locally-produced programs; namely Face-to-Face and Topics. 107th PBS station to carry a digital signal 1st station in the Virgin Islands and the U.S. Territories to carry a digital signal.