Public broadcasting’s federal subsidies were not caught up in the political stalemate that forced closure of the federal government Oct. 1.
The U.S. Treasury delivered CPB’s $445 million fiscal 2014 appropriation that same day, as scheduled, while political leaders in Congress and the White House wrangled over tea party Republicans’ push to repeal the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
CPB’s appropriation was forward-funded during the 2012 appropriations cycle. The federal budget that has been held up by a faction of GOP lawmakers will determine CPB’s funding for 2016.
CPB will distribute the first installment of annual Community Service Grants to CPB-qualified public television and radio stations later this month.
Due to uncertainties over how policymakers will resolve this year’s budget impasse — and whether a portion of it will be rescinded — CPB is holding back around $23 million of its fiscal 2014 appropriation in anticipation of cuts, said Michael Levy, executive v.p.