MS HR38

Congratulates WTVA television station in Tupelo on its 60th anniversary in 2017, marking six decades of service to the Tupelo community and surrounding areas.

Notes that WTVA was founded by Frank K. Spain, who applied for a license in 1953 and received FCC approval in 1956, with the station beginning operations on March 18, 1957 with call letters WTWV.

Recognizes that WTVA became an NBC affiliate through innovative microwave relay systems, changed its call letters to WTVA on July 4, 1979 to honor Tupelo's status as the first Tennessee Valley Authority city, and was the first commercial television station in Mississippi to broadcast educational programming and a live basketball game.

States that Heartland Media acquired the station on September 16, 2014, ending 57 years of Spain family ownership.

Directs that copies of the resolution be furnished to Heartland Media, WTVA, and members of the Capitol Press Corps.