About

NPR Distribution works in partnership with producers, distributors and broadcast stations to provide interconnection for the entire public radio system. Consistent delivery of best-in-class technology, process, business practice, and 24-hour customer service in an ever-evolving environment ultimately serves the audiences of public radio.

Our Experience

NPR launched the first nationwide satellite network for broadcast programming more than 40 years ago. Today, the Public Radio Satellite System – the nation’s public radio interconnection system – continues to make advancements in transmission technology that the rest of the industry recognizes as standard.

The PRSS distribution network delivers thousands of hours of news, music, and specialized audience programming every year to public radio stations throughout the United States.

Photo of NPR Headquarters

Our Facilities

Photo of Network Operations Center (NOC)

The Network Operations Center (NOC) is our state-of-the-art system control and routing center for audio, compressed video and data transmissions. Since many of your most important broadcasts take place at night, weekends, or even on holidays, our technicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist you with any troubleshooting requirements you may have.

Staffed by experienced, highly-qualified technicians, the NOC manages every aspect of activity on NPR Distribution's transponders and system uplinks. The NOC also assists customers with initial access to the satellite channels and verifies power levels. NPR Distribution's NOC is located at NPR headquarters in Washington, DC.

Photo of Back-up NOC in St. Paul, MN

NPR Distribution maintains a 24-hour hot backup in St. Paul, Minnesota. All programming for both ContentDepot and The HUB is simultaneously fed to the main location in Washington, DC and St. Paul. This enables for seamless transition whether it be for normal maintenance and upgrades and an emergency situation.

Network Support Center (Illustration)

Broadcast equipment is well made, but occasionally even the best equipment needs to be serviced. NPR Distribution customers can count on our Network Support Center for technical assistance and repairs. Our NSC's experienced and knowledgeable staff can keep your network on the air by:

  • assisting you with troubleshooting your installations
  • identifying defective equipment
  • arranging for loaner equipment

The NSC operates during normal business hours (Eastern Time). For off-the-air emergency consultation, the staff is available 24/7. The NSC can be reached at 202.513.2650 or prsshelp@npr.org.

Satellites

Galaxy 16

G16 C band

Owned and operated by Intelsat, Galaxy 16’s geostationary-orbital position is 99° west longitude. PRSS leases C-Band bandwidth on transponder 23 of Galaxy 16.

G16 Ku Band

Owned and operated by Intelsat, Galaxy 16’s geostationary-orbital position is 99° west longitude. PRSS leases Ku-Band bandwidth on transponder 10 of Galaxy 16.

Oversight

NPR, through its NPR Distribution division, manages and operates the Public Radio Satellite System. NPR is governed by its Board of Directors, which includes a standing committee of the Board – the Distribution/Interconnection (D/I) Committee charged with overseeing the operation of the system. The composition of the D/I Committee is unique among board committees in that its membership consists of both NPR Board directors and members who are not NPR directors but instead represent other public telecommunications entities.

The presence of the non-Board members on the Committee reflects NPR Distribution's role as manager and operator of an interconnection system that serves all public telecommunications entities needing satellite and internet distribution services, including public radio stations, program producers, and other organizations not affiliated with NPR. The non-Board members of the D/I Committee are elected by the NPR Board and confirmed by the interconnected stations.

NPR Board Members

Headshot of Mike Savage

Mike Savage

D/I Committee Chair
General Manager
WEKU-FM
—Richmond, KY—
Arrow icon to represent opening in new tab

R.C. McBride

D/I Committee Vice Chair
General Manager
WGLT-FM
—Bloomington-Normal, IL—
Arrow icon to represent opening in new tab
Headshot of Erika Pulley-Hayes

Erika Pulley-Hayes

General Manager
WAMU-FM
—Washington, DC—
Arrow icon to represent opening in new tab
Headshot of Shawn Turner from WKAR

Shawn Turner

General Manager
WKAR Public Media
—EAST LANSING, MI—
Arrow icon to represent opening in new tab
Headshot of Jay Pearce

Jay Pearce

CEO & General Manager
WVIK-FM, Quad Cities NPR
Headshot of Mike Savage

Mike Savage

General Manager
WEKU-FM
Headshot of Erika Pulley-Hayes

Erika Pulley-Hayes

President and CEO
WMFE / WMFV-FM Community Communications Inc.
Headshot of Judith Segura

Judith Segura

Lead Thermal Architect
Apple Inc.
Headshot of Maria O'Mara

Maria O’Mara

Executive Director
KUER-FM

Non-Board Members

Patty Cahill

Public Media Professional
—Kansas City, MO—
View Bio

Mollie Kabler

Executive Director
CoastAlaska, Inc.
—Juneau, AK—
View Bio

Josh Kubasta

Managing Director, Broadcast Production & Operations
Minnesota Public Radio
—St. Paul, MN—
View Bio

Loretta Rucker

Executive Director
African-American Public Radio Consortium
—Brooklyn, NY—
View Bio

Financial Disclosure

NPR is fully committed to complying with the open financial records requirements of the Communications Act and the requirements of its grant agreements. At all NPR public access points, including NPR headquarters and its telephone and electronic points of contact, requests to provide a physical or electronic copy of the requested information will be addressed in a timely fashion. Copies of the requested information may be subject to reasonable redactions to protect against disclosure of confidential or otherwise sensitive information.

Our Experience

Photo of NPR Headquarters

NPR launched the first nationwide satellite network for broadcast programming more than 40 years ago. Today, the Public Radio Satellite System – the nation’s public radio interconnection system – continues to make advancements in transmission technology that the rest of the industry recognizes as standard.

The PRSS distribution network delivers thousands of hours of news, music, and specialized audience programming every year to public radio stations throughout the United States.

Our Facilities

Photo of Network Operations Center (NOC)

The Network Operations Center (NOC) is our state-of-the-art system control and routing center for audio, compressed video and data transmissions. Since many of your most important broadcasts take place at night, weekends, or even on holidays, our technicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist you with any troubleshooting requirements you may have.

Staffed by experienced, highly-qualified technicians, the NOC manages every aspect of activity on NPR Distribution's transponders and system uplinks. The NOC also assists customers with initial access to the satellite channels and verifies power levels. NPR Distribution's NOC is located at NPR headquarters in Washington, DC.

Photo of Back-up NOC in St. Paul, MN

NPR Distribution maintains a 24-hour hot backup in St. Paul, Minnesota. All programming for both ContentDepot and The HUB is simultaneously fed to the main location in Washington, DC and St. Paul. This enables for seamless transition whether it be for normal maintenance and upgrades and an emergency situation.

Network Support Center (Illustration)

Broadcast equipment is well made, but occasionally even the best equipment needs to be serviced. NPR Distribution customers can count on our Network Support Center for technical assistance and repairs. Our NSC's experienced and knowledgeable staff can keep your network on the air by:

  • assisting you with troubleshooting your installations
  • identifying defective equipment
  • arranging for loaner equipment

The NSC operates during normal business hours (Eastern Time). For off-the-air emergency consultation, the staff is available 24/7. The NSC can be reached at 202.513.2650 or prsshelp@npr.org.

Satellites

Galaxy 16

G16 C band

Owned and operated by Intelsat, Galaxy 16’s geostationary-orbital position is 99° west longitude. PRSS leases C-Band bandwidth on transponder 23 of Galaxy 16.

G16 Ku Band

Owned and operated by Intelsat, Galaxy 16’s geostationary-orbital position is 99° west longitude. PRSS leases Ku-Band bandwidth on transponder 10 of Galaxy 16.

Oversight

NPR, through its NPR Distribution division, manages and operates the Public Radio Satellite System. NPR is governed by its Board of Directors, which includes a standing committee of the Board – the Distribution/Interconnection (D/I) Committee charged with overseeing the operation of the system. The composition of the D/I Committee is unique among board committees in that its membership consists of both NPR Board directors and members who are not NPR directors but instead represent other public telecommunications entities.

The presence of the non-Board members on the Committee reflects NPR Distribution's role as manager and operator of an interconnection system that serves all public telecommunications entities needing satellite and internet distribution services, including public radio stations, program producers, and other organizations not affiliated with NPR. The non-Board members of the D/I Committee are elected by the NPR Board and confirmed by the interconnected stations.

NPR Board Members

Headshot of Mike Savage

Mike Savage

D/I Committee Chair
General Manager
WEKU-FM
—Richmond, KY—
Arrow icon to represent opening in new tab

R.C. McBride

D/I Committee Vice Chair
General Manager
WGLT-FM
—Bloomington-Normal, IL—
Arrow icon to represent opening in new tab
Headshot of Erika Pulley-Hayes

Erika Pulley-Hayes

General Manager
WAMU-FM
—Washington, DC—
Arrow icon to represent opening in new tab
Headshot of Shawn Turner from WKAR

Shawn Turner

General Manager
WKAR Public Media
—East Lansing, MI—
Arrow icon to represent opening in new tab

Non-Board Members

Patty Cahill

Public Media Professional
—Kansas City, MO—
About

Mollie Kabler

Executive Director
Coast Alaska, Inc.
—Juneau, AK—
About

Josh Kubasta

Managing Director, Broadcast Production & Operations
Minnesota Public Radio
—St. Paul, MN—
About

Loretta Rucker

Executive Director
African-American Public Radio Consortium
—Brooklyn, NY—
About

Financial Disclosure

NPR is fully committed to complying with the open financial records requirements of the Communications Act and the requirements of its grant agreements. At all NPR public access points, including NPR headquarters and its telephone and electronic points of contact, requests to provide a physical or electronic copy of the requested information will be addressed in a timely fashion. Copies of the requested information may be subject to reasonable redactions to protect against disclosure of confidential or otherwise sensitive information.