Here is a copy of the email I'm sending out to our elected officials using direct contact info provided to stations by our public radio consortium in the state, highly edited for my situation
Paul Walker
KSKO FM Mcgrath Alaska
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From:
Paul B. Walker, Jr. <
[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Jul 17, 2023 at 9:15 AM
Subject: CPB Funding Is Vital To Public Radio In Alaska!
To: <
[email protected]>, <
[email protected]>
Senator Murkowski:
I am writing to ask you to safeguard funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in the FY2024 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill. As it currently stands, the House version of the bill eliminates the two-year advance appropriation for CPB and funding for the interconnection system.
I am the program director for KSKO- FM, based in McGrath with FM repeaters in Nikolai, Anvik, Grayling, Shageluk, Holy Cross, Sleetmute & Crooked Creek. We serve about 1200 people spanning 150 miles
Many in our region are elders who don't own computers and smartphones, therefore they don't have internet access. That's due in part to the cost barrier in getting internet set up and keeping it.
Some have tv, which is either a satellite system that will have “local channels” from Fairbanks or Anchorage 250-300 miles away. Some villages might have a low powered tv broadcast signal but all that Carries is Fairbanks or Anchorage signals. Those tv stations nearly 300 miles report on nothing that really matters to residents in my listening area.
An elimination of federal funding would devastate the entire system but be especially devastating and potentially deadly to our station. We would be unable to provide ESSENTIAL services to our listening area including:
* River break up forecasts and flooding potential. When rivers begin to melt and start flowing again, we provide critical information to help residents prepare to save property and life. They won’t get this detail anywhere else.
*Critical weather information such as extreme heat or cold. Our staff knows how to interpret local weather patterns and what is tolerable weather to locals, so we know how and when to alert residents to potential uncomfortable/dangerous weather.
*reporting on wildfires. Wildfires can easily decimate our region in the summer. We regularly stay in contact with local officials and wildfire officials to report on the latest conditions when wildfires threaten our region. Officials provide us with wildfire forecast info and help us alert our audience to save property or life when it threatens a village.
*Subsistence fishing information. Our region survives on subsistence living, it is a means for families to provide food for much of the year. We provide info on when certain types of gear or fishing is allowed or isn’t allowed or when certain fish need to be released or can be kept.
*Covid 19/other major health concerns. During the pandemic, we brought our residents vital information including community town halls from local health officials providing vital information on how to stay safe and health
My job is to know and to understand our listeners wants, needs and desires while understanding nuances and the effects of native tradition in our communities.. something no one else but public radio can do. We have the time and it is part of the sole reason we exist, our mission is to serve these people as no other media can do it. We compile all of the information mentioned above and more then present it in a fashion and manner for everyone, getting all the info they need from one source, rather then TRYING to find it from multiple sources and very likely missing out on much needed critical information.
I was on the air at 1230am when water came up over the banks in one village and began to enter town. I was then on the air from 6am to 3pm on and off providing needed health and safety information. I have been on the air to announce when a person can't be located and needs to be found.
I recognize that budgeting can be challenging and there are alot of cuts to lots of funding. However, a complete elimination of CPB funding would absolutely threaten the survival of public media and would absolutely spell the end to the station I manage in McGrath Alaska, therefore endangering health and safety in the long run. I am asking you to please protect CPB funding in the Senate Appropriations Committed and work through out the rest of the funding process to maintain this funding, ensuring that these invaluable sources in Alaska are maintained. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your support of KSKO
If you or anyone would like to speak to me by phone, testify/speak to any committee or provide any additional information, I am more than glad to do that ANY TIME, day or night. PLEASE call my cell phone at 907-XXX-XXXX
Regards,
Paul Walker
KSKO-FM McGrath, Alaska
Program Director, Morning/Lunch Show Host, Assistant Engineer, Cleaning Assistant, Secretary, Assistant Promotions Person, snow Shoveler, Moose Shooer Awayer & Treato Giver To ALL The Village Doggos
www.insideradio.com
