Court reaffirms CPB's independence

[cc333]

Back in the '90s, opponents of public broadcasting cited the Discovery Channel and History Channel as reasons why public funding was unnecessary. How did that work out?

Yeah.

Add A&E (then referred to Arts & Entertainment).

Back in the 90s, these networks actually had very good content worthy of public television.

Alas, by the late 2000s, all had declined into the sensational reality TV wasteland that many other networks seemed to likewise succumb to.

Nowadays, A&E et al are virtually indistinguishable from USA and the like, which in turn is virtually indistinguishable from Fox. It's sad.

c

 

[TheBigA]

Here's the statement from CPB about having their funding rescinded:

CPB Statement on Congress' Approval of the Rescission Package Eliminating CPB Funding

WASHINGTON, DC (July 18, 2027) -- Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Senate and House approving the rescission package eliminating CPB funding: “The vote by the U.S. Senate and House...

cpb.org

 

[Rusty Muck]

Public broadcasting was nice while it lasted. With no recourse against this, it is going to get ugly and very fast.

 

[TheBigA]

Here's the view from Tulsa:

"The rescission would affect about a little over 10 percent of our funding each year. We receive about $155,000 on an average year from the Corporation For Public Broadcasting. This rescission, if it passes the House here today or tomorrow, would effect that funding but beyond that, CPB also provides a range of services to public stations and television. We're talking music licensing rights, streaming rights. They provide material support for our satellite system. They provide important EAS emergency alerting, and in fact, is taking the lead on the next generation warning system."

Public Radio Tulsa reacts to proposed federal funding cuts to CPB

Public Radio Tulsa reacted to the proposed federal spending cuts to the Corporation For Public Broadcasting (CPB) and explained how the cuts might affect their services.

www.fox23.com

 

[gr8oldies]

Public broadcasting was nice while it lasted. With no recourse against this, it is going to get ugly and very fast.

I saw comments about "those rural areas don't need left-wing propaganda". God forbid they hear any criticism of their state's GOP Supermajority.

 

[TheBigA]

Here's a wrap up of reaction and response to the CPB cut:

With CPB Funding Cut, Public Radio Enters Uncertain Future - Radio Ink

Congress has passed the Rescissions Act of 2025, eliminating CPB funding through 2027. Public broadcasters warn of community harm.

radioink.com

Public broadcasting now enters the world of "unfunded mandates." There are things the stations are required to do, but no money is provided to carry it out.

 

[Rusty Muck]

I saw comments about "those rural areas don't need left-wing propaganda". God forbid they hear any criticism of their state's GOP Supermajority.

Certain pockets of social media don't surprise me in the least. It's the "touching a hot stove" mentality.

 

[cc333]

Certain pockets of social media don't surprise me in the least. It's the "touching a hot stove" mentality.

Not just "touching a hot stove", but grabbing on and not letting go until one burns up.

Which is a fitting metaphor for the current state of affairs: crash and burn.

c

 

[ok walters]

Here's a wrap up of reaction and response to the CPB cut:

With CPB Funding Cut, Public Radio Enters Uncertain Future - Radio Ink

Congress has passed the Rescissions Act of 2025, eliminating CPB funding through 2027. Public broadcasters warn of community harm.

radioink.com

Public broadcasting now enters the world of "unfunded mandates." There are things the stations are required to do, but no money is provided to carry it out.

Tell me more - what are the special requirements of a CPB funded station that no longer receives those funds? Everything I see says any special requirement is tied to receiving funds, and those requirements are all disclosure related anyway - disclosure of finances, political activity, and EOE employment adherence. Are you saying those requirements remain even though the funding is gone? Sure doesn't read that way.

https://cpb.org/sites/default/files/Compliance%20Checklist%202025%20%281%29.pdf

 

[Rusty Muck]

Not just "touching a hot stove", but grabbing on and not letting go until one burns up.

Which is a fitting metaphor for the current state of affairs: crash and burn.

c

At this point, letting it all burn is probably the only direction to take.

 

[TheBigA]

Are you saying those requirements remain even though the funding is gone? Sure doesn't read that way.

This goes to what Susan Collins was saying. The rescission letter doesn't say how OMB will handle this, nor does it specify how CPB will continue to exist, pay rent & staff, without funding. They didn't repeal any laws or requirements, so as far as anyone knows, they all still exist. Just no money to pay for it.

 

[gr8oldies]

Certain pockets of social media don't surprise me in the least. It's the "touching a hot stove" mentality.

Some of those came from lawmakers

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Ive already spoken with one station thats had financial issues in the past and has teetered back n forth on financial insecurity.. and its very possible they could go off air completely in early 2026.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Some of those came from lawmakers

Well those critters need to preserve their incumbencies in the worst way possible.

 

[radiofan2023]

Ive already spoken with one station thats had financial issues in the past and has teetered back n forth on financial insecurity.. and its very possible they could go off air completely in early 2026.

Can you please say which station so people can donate to them?

 

[ted chittenden]

This goes to what Susan Collins was saying. The rescission letter doesn't say how OMB will handle this, nor does it specify how CPB will continue to exist, pay rent & staff, without funding. They didn't repeal any laws or requirements, so as far as anyone knows, they all still exist. Just no money to pay for it.

Which means that the requirements will be basically null and void because they will have no teeth. Or are those opposed to public broadcasting going to swoop in and file lawsuits against what remains of public radio because they aren't living up to unbiased requirements? Yes, I think I see the vultures coming!

 

[K.M. Richards]

For anyone who cares to read it, FCC Commissioner Gomez has issued a public statement against the legislation:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-413081A1.pdf

 

[ted chittenden]

Ive already spoken with one station thats had financial issues in the past and has teetered back n forth on financial insecurity.. and its very possible they could go off air completely in early 2026.

I'd be very curious to see how many of the religious networks swoop in and pick up stations like the one you run. This is a day that many of them have waited *so* long for!

 

[TheBigA]

Which means that the requirements will be basically null and void because they will have no teeth.

It depends. The FCC still enforces its rules. CPB still has rent to pay and the landlords will demand payment even though CPB has no funding.

But sure, the CPB rules stations had to follow to get funding are null and void because there's no more funding.

Or are those opposed to public broadcasting going to swoop in and file lawsuits against what remains of public radio because they aren't living up to unbiased requirements?

Keep in mind the "unbiased" requirement wasn't made of any stations. There is no fairness doctrine, and the government can't demand unbiased media.

 

[Bongwater]

And when they're done with public radio, commercial radio is next.

The break glass moment happened 6 months ago. This is now a five alarm fire that's spreading.

CBS says it's dismissing Stephen Colbert due to "budget problems". Really? Colbert is their biggest star.

Something is very, very odd about that. Especially when Trump followed that news with not-so-subtle threatening of Jimmy Kimmel's show....

Do not normalize this. Do not normalize any of this....