Federal funding for public broadcasting

President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposes $30 million to allow the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to shut itself down. Previous White House budgets have called for zeroing out CPB, but funding has continued nonetheless. With Trump’s budget now under consideration in Congress, the House Appropriations Committee has recommended restoring $445 million in support for CPB. As Congress continues work on the budget, catch up on what’s happened so far with our reporting, podcasts, commentaries and explainers.

Programs/Content

PBS’s Kerger warns of station shutdowns if CPB goes dark

By Barry Garron | July 31, 2017

“There is no plan B” to replace federal funding, Paula Kerger told TV critics during her executive session at the Summer Press Tour.

System/Policy

House committee backs funds for Ready To Learn, passes over interconnection

By Dru Sefton, Senior Editor | July 18, 2017

The committee recommends $25.7 million for the public TV early literacy project.

System/Policy

House Appropriations Committee recommends $445M for CPB in 2020

By Dru Sefton, Senior Editor | July 13, 2017

The bill does not include funding for public broadcasting’s interconnection project or public TV’s Ready To Learn.

System/Policy

At CPB Board meeting, congressman calls for ‘civil and thoughtful’ advocacy for pubcasting funding

By Dru Sefton, Senior Editor | June 13, 2017

Rep. Earl Blumenauer also told the board that he had asked House Democrats to stop “using the assault on public broadcasting as a fundraising technique.”

Quick Takes

CPB director’s second op-ed against federal funds draws public rebuke from board leaders

By Dru Sefton, Senior Editor | June 13, 2017

Howard Husock’s latest essay appeared Thursday in “The Hill.”