About

About

About CTNBA

The Catholic Telemedia Network of the Bay Area (CTNBA) is a mission-driven, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization jointly owned by the Dioceses of San Jose and Oakland. Founded in 1970 by Rev. Pierre DuMaine, our organization has spent over 50 years evolving alongside technology to serve the unique needs of Catholic educators and students. We strive to empower K-8 Catholic schools through a dual approach that combines authentic faith content with accessible digital tools:
  1. Faith-First Digital Resources: Through our Catholic Teacher Resources (CTR) platform, we provide vetted, standards-based multimedia lessons that nourish the soul while meeting academic requirements. This digital evolution of our original broadcasting mission ensures that a school’s Catholic identity remains central in a tech-driven world.
  2. Collective Purchasing Power: We act as a strategic bulk-purchasing agent for a consortium of over 180 schools. By negotiating enterprise-level contracts with premier educational vendors, we give smaller school populations access to 21st-century tools, such as data-driven instruction platforms and AI-driven programs, at rates they couldn’t achieve alone.
Beyond providing content and contracts, CTNBA is a steward of classroom innovation. We reinvest our resources directly back into our partners, providing essential hardware like iPads, hotspots, and routers to local schools in need. Together, we strive to bridge the digital divide, ensuring every student benefits from academic excellence and a strong foundation of faith.

Our Team

Ronald Loiacono

Executive Director

Natalie Salvatto

Deputy Director

Jim O’Brien

Operations Manager

Board Members

Bishop Oscar Cantu

Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose

Bishop Michael Barber

Bishop of the Diocese of Oakland

Pamela Lyons

Superintendent of Diocese of San Jose Catholic Schools

Andrew Currier

Superintendent of Diocese of Oakland Catholic Schools

Deacon Eric Simontis

Chief Financial Officer, Diocese of San Jose

Attila Bardos

Chief Financial Officer, Diocese of Oakland

Father Brendan McGuire

Pastor at St. Simon Parish, Diocese of San Jose

Rick Medeiros

Chancellor, Diocese of Oakland

History

  • Early 1970s

     

    Founding & Vision for Catholic Educational Broadcasting

    The Catholic Television Network of the Bay Area (CTNBA) was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area by Rev. Pierre DuMaine, then Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He secured rights to Educational Broadcasting Spectrum from the FCC and received approval to build a private television network delivering over-the-air educational programming to Catholic elementary schools.

    The microwave network transmitted from Menlo Park and connected to 137 schools using mountaintop relay stations—cutting-edge technology at the time.

  • 1980

     

    Transition to San Jose & Formation of Strategic Partnership

    Rev. DuMaine was named the first Bishop of San Jose. Ownership of CTNBA was transferred to the Diocese of San Jose.

    To support expansion, Bishop DuMaine partnered with Bishop John Cummins of Oakland to form Roman Catholic Communications Corporation, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) jointly owned (50/50) by both dioceses—establishing the partnership that continues today.

  • Early 1990s

     

    Expansion of Programming & School Engagement

    CTNBA produced and broadcasted educational and religious programming to Catholic schools across the Bay Area from its Menlo Park studio and invited schools to create their own local productions too.

  • Mid-1990s

     

    Technology Shift & Emerging Value of Spectrum Assets

    With the rise of computers, CTNBA’s broadcast model began to decline in relevance, bringing forth its new name: Catholic Telemedia Network of the Bay Area.

    At the same time, the value of its FCC spectrum rights became increasingly recognized by commercial entities.

  • 1994

     

    Stewardship for Schools & Regulatory Adaptation

    CTNBA entered into a lease agreement with a commercial entity to utilize excess spectrum capacity.

    As mobile technology expanded, spectrum became highly valuable. The FCC required active usage to retain rights, prompting CTNBA to maintain daily broadcasts (25 programs per day), including CNN Student News and History Channel content.

  • 2000

     

    Investment in Classroom Technology

    As schools integrated more technology, CTNBA adapted by leveraging its video library and expanding its company website to include access to digital supplemental educational programs.

    Revenue from spectrum leasing was reinvested into schools, providing Smart Boards, document cameras, computers, and projection systems—supporting the shift to digital learning environments.

  • 2003

     

    Meeting the Moment

    To continue in its mission to advance technology in the classroom and continue the digital evolution of DuMaine’s original vision to bring high-quality Catholic content to the classroom, CTNBA created Catholic Teacher Resources (CTR). CTR is a comprehensive digital platform to provide vetted, standards-based multimedia Catholic materials—such as saint stories, lesson plans, and videos—designed to help educators seamlessly integrate Catholic faith and values into the modern K-8 classroom.

  • 2012

     

    Strategic Shift from Broadcasting to Technology Enablement

    CTNBA entered into a long-term agreement with a major telephone company and discontinued its over-the-air broadcasting network believing it could serve more schools digitally via Catholic Teacher Resources.
    That agreement enabled CTNBA to increase its work with schools to integrate technology by offering iPads, mobile hotspots, and routers to schools in need.

    The continuing transition to technology also allowed CTN to be of greater service to our schools in two ways. One, to become a bulk purchasing agent for our schools supporting the adoption of modern, computer-driven educational programs. Two, to widen our consortium of schools by including those beyond the San Francisco Bay Area.

  • 2015

     

    Increased Service to Schools

    In alignment with CTNBA’s mission of supporting schools, it included digital resource training and tech support to its list services.

  • 2021

     

    Broadening the Mission & Pandemic Response

    While the pandemic brought unique challenges to our schools, with CTNBA’s existing vendor contracts, schools were supported in a multitude of ways, including having CTNBA be a California Department of Education approved ARP EANS vendor. This program allowed CTNBA to extend its operations to non-public schools as well. By expanding the consortium of schools and thereby expanding its purchasing power, CTNBA is able to greatly assist all partnered schools.

  • 2026

     

    Ethical AI Integration & Continued Innovation

    After careful vetting, CTNBA continues to evolve by adding an AI-driven program and Science of Reading professional development to its roster of bulk purchases. The organization remains focused on innovation and best practices in education and is actively looking ahead to what’s next in support of our 180+ schools.

Our Core Values

Faith-Centered Innovation

We evolve alongside technology to ensure the Catholic faith remains a vibrant, integrated part of the modern K-8 classroom.

Mission-Driven Stewardship

We responsibly manage our historical assets and spectrum rights to reinvest directly into the success of our schools and students.

Strategic Collaboration

By fostering partnerships between dioceses and expanding our consortium, we increase our collective power to provide high-quality resources for all.

Empowering Educators

We simplify the digital landscape for teachers by providing vetted, ready-to-use content and hands-on technical support.

Ethical Progress

As we look toward the future, we remain committed to vetting new frontiers, such as AI, through the lens of Catholic values and educational best practices.

About       Services       Reach Out

© Copyright - Catholic Telemedia Network of the Bay Area is a non-profit 501C3. Taxpayer I.D.