Howe, a believer in strategic planning, developed a rolling five-year plan with UNC-TV’s management team and board of trustees, spelling out the commitment to local service. This increased emphasis on planning has produced measurable results. For example, member support now provides UNC-TV with approximately one-third of its annual budget, student enrollment in distance learning telecourses has grown to nearly 20,000, and original production of North Carolina programming has increased from 183 hours in 1992 to more than 400 hours today.

In 1996, the eleventh and final station in the network, WUNU, Channel 31 in Lumberton, was dedicated, making public television available for close to 100 percent of the state.