WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Commerce has awarded more than $700,000 in grants to Maine Public Broadcasting Corp. to support the third and final phase of MPBC’s digital conversion project.

About $667,000 of the funds will be used to address the transmitter needs of WMEA-TV, Channel 26 (DTV Channel 45) in Biddeford and WMEM-TV, Channel 10 (DTV Channel 20) in Presque Isle, according to U.S. Rep. John Baldacci in a press release announcing the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program Grants. Additionally, this funding will be used to upgrade test equipment for WMEA, WMEM, WMEB and WMED, as well as microwave upgrades for the entire network.

Baldacci said a second grant of $41,319 would be used to improve the operations of WMED-FM, 89.7 MHz, in Calais. Funds will be used to purchase a transmitter and related equipment.