Federal funding for public broadcasting

President Donald Trump’s first proposed federal budget would eliminate support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funnels money to public TV and radio stations across the U.S. Previous White House budgets have called for zeroing out CPB, but funding has continued nonetheless. As members of Congress prepare responses to Trump’s budget, look back on the history of federal funding and catch up on what’s happened so far with our reporting, podcasts, commentaries and explainers.

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.”

System/Policy

CPB director Husock takes more specific swipe at pubcasting funding

By Dru Sefton, Senior Editor | June 8, 2017

“I’ve continued to think about what a post-subsidy system would be like, as a practical matter,” Howard Husock told Current.