National Public Radio Records: Board of Directors Files

Subseries 2.1: Executive Committee, 1971-1986 (0.75 linear foot)

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors consists of the board's Chair, vice Chair and two other directors, with occasionally, one or more staff members present for support. The purpose of the Executive Committee has been to supervise operations and activities of National Public Radio between meetings of the Board of Directors or as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. Issues considered by the Executive Committee included by-laws, board policies, and financial issues. The documents are arranged chronologically.

Subseries 2.2: Long Range Planning & Legislation Committee, 1973-1986 and undated (1.00 linear foot)

The Long Range Planning & Legislation Committee began October 1978, succeeding earlier committee such as the Long Range Planning Committee (1973-1974), the Program Policy and Corporate Planning Committee (1974-1976) and the Legal and Legislative Committee (1973-1974). Planning issues documented in these committee files include development of long range funding in both federal and non-federal support, and extension of radio services to wider audiences. Legislative issues primarily center around FCC activities in various areas such as children's programming, engineering standards for educational broadcasting stations and part-time programming by minority groups. The files also include project papers of the Audio Services Through Cable and Other Technologies (ASCOT) task force which was a special project of NPR's Planning and Research Department. The documents are arranged with the minutes first chronologically, and then alphabetically by topic.

Subseries 2.3: Membership Committee, 1971-1987 and undated (1.00 linear foot)

The Membership Committee's purpose is to formulate and recommend membership qualifications. The topics, which are described in the minutes and other documents, include criteria for station membership and the issues of program access for non-members. The documents are arranged alphabetically by topic or type, and then chronologically.

Subseries 2.4: Planning & Priorities Committee, 1984-1989 and undated (1.00 linear foot)

The Planning & Priorities Committee's purpose was to develop and recommend long-range objectives for NPR, advising the Board regarding the appropriateness of major decisions in terms of these objectives. Activities of the Committee included updating the board procedures handbook, setting policies concerning issues like membership criteria, and parliamentary procedures. In 1986, the Audience Building Task force was created with the goal of doubling the audience by 1990.

This subseries documents the activities of the Planning & Priorities Committee from 1984 to 1989. It is arranged starting chronologically with the minutes, and then alphabetically by topic and then either alphabetically or chronologically within each topic.

Subseries 2.5: System Structures & Services Committee, 1983-1984 (6 folders)

This subseries documents the activities of the System Structures & Services Committee from 1983 to 1984. The committee, created November 1983 by NPR Board Chair Don Mulally as a Select Committee on System Structures and Services, had the charge of determining the future of NPR's structure and services in the aftermath of the 1983 financial crisis through an open inquiry of station input via ballots. The committee's summaries were presented at "The Future of National Public Radio: Structures and Services" conference in February 1984.

Subseries 2.6: Technology/Distribution Committee, 1978-1986 and undated (6.00 linear feet including 91 audiocassettes)

This subseries documents the activities of the Technology/Distribution Committee. Types of documents include minutes, budget materials, reports and related legislative materials. Topics include satellite interconnection, program scheduling, the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program and the responsibilities of the Distribution Division. The committee began in 1978 with planning for satellite programming which began October 1, 1979. The materials are arranged with the minutes first chronologically and then alphabetically by topic or type.