House bill eliminates funds for public broadcasting
Carissa Puls
The Signal
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Hal Rogers Feb. 19. Known as the Continuing Resolution Act of 2011, this bill eliminates all funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The bill arrived in the Senate on Feb. 28, but before it can be put into effect it still has to win the Senate’s vote and be signed by the president.
CPB promotes public telecommunications services for the American public. This includes TV and radio stations such as the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio. Many Americans depend upon these stations for news and entertainment.
“I listen to NPR every day,” said Ashley Packard, professor of communication and digital media studies. “I think it is the best source of news available because it is informative and engaging. I also use clips from it regularly in my classes.”
Texas Rep. Kevin Brady wrote The Cuts Act of 2011, which is parallel with the Continuing Resolution Act. Brady’s description of his bill states that the current CPB funding level is around $400 million annually and is the highest it’s ever been.
“We can’t afford it anymore,” said Brady, on the NPR Diane Rehm show. “Its not an issue of the value of NPR because in truth, you know, your programming in many ways is wonderful.”
NPR is mainly dependent upon loyal supporters who help fund the majority of the program.
“[Government funding] is a steady revenue stream NPR could use to do the work they do,” Packard said. “However, the amount of funding they get from government is pretty miniscule, relatively speaking. It would be more accurate to say the government has been giving them crumbs and is proposing to take the crumbs away.”
“About only 15 percent of NPR’s budget is dependent upon the federal funding,” said Tracee Evans, press secretary for Brady.
Brady’s description of the Cuts Act reveals that the government spends almost $20 million more on unnecessary office printing.
Of this year’s $1.4 trillion deficit, about $420 million is attributed to CPB.
“It doesn’t make sense to cut something so minor in the budget,” said John Hesse, the PBS Houston Channel 8 station manager.
PBS is working on a case to present before Congress that addresses the importance of its programs to the public.
“The elimination of funding for public broadcasting threatens millions of citizens throughout America with the loss of services that they rely on, especially parents and children,” stated a Feb. 19 PBS press release.
During this period of time with the U.S.’s economic situation, and the cuts in education nationally, Hesse argued, “the educational value that PBS has brought to this country is enormous and is being undervalued by those looking to cut it.”
A portion of the federal funding for CPB goes directly to help fund national productions such as “NOVA” and “Sesame Street,” both of which promote education.
“If that money is not there, then those programs may not be there either,” Hesse said.
Although the cut will not affect the immediate year, it will have a ripple effect through the CPB stations.
“Nearly 360 member stations will be severely impacted,” PBS stated in a press release. “Smaller and rural stations, those that operate in areas with the most limited media choices, would feel the most dramatic effects.”
Only about 15 percent of the Houston PBS budget is dependent upon government funding.
“Channel 8 doesn’t depend upon the government funding as much,” explained Hesse. “However, smaller systems will go completely dark because a much higher percentage of their budget, sometimes up to 40 percent, is dependent upon federal money.”
PBS Houston Channel 8 is running pretty “lean” already with their employee base, Hesse said. “Depending upon what happens, we have to look at the possibility of cutting back services.”
For more information regarding those opposed to the elimination of funding for CPB visit www.170millionamericans.org, or write to your local state representative.
