Senate Bill to Defund NPR

[Deus Ex Machiato]

When people learn how these stations are actually funded, they change their tune.

Unfortunately the drumbeat of "Defund NPR" etc. has been very loud for decades and particularly loud (and misleading) lately. To hear some folks tell it, PBS and NPR are giant sinks where billions of taxpayer dollars go to fund overpaid executives, "woke" programming, DEI programs from Sesame Street to Antiques Roadshow, and "radical" shows like This American Life. Truth is, the educational content is worthwhile, the news (both on TV and radio) is pretty balanced (and doesn't constantly shout opinions at you) and as a public service and use of the public airwaves, it's a pretty good deal for a relative pittance of federal money.

Pulling the funding (which facilitates the donations getting to the stations) will not magically balance the federal budget. It's equivalent to a rounding error.

 

[TheBigA]

A requirement of NPR itself, not of the government. NPR could drop that requirement in 10 seconds if the member stations screamed loud enough.

That's a CPB requirement. Here are requirements to qualify for federal funding:

https://cpb.org/sites/default/files/FY_2025_Radio_CSG_General_Provisions_and_Eligibility_Criteria.pdf

D. Locally Originated Program Service: Grantee must originate a local program service designed to serve its community’s needs and interests.
E. Facilities: Grantee must have sufficient, professionally equipped on-air and production facilities to broadcast programming of high technical quality, including the capability for simultaneous local production and origination. In addition, Grantee must provide sufficient office space suitable for station operations.

As I said, EMF has no such local requirements.

 

[PTBoardOp93]

NPR has criteria above and beyond those. IIRC the minimum for a full member station is 5 employees (on an FTE basis). I think the exact wording is unpublished, or at least I can't find it at the moment. I did find the one-line summary Via NPR.org:

Once they meet the criteria (including mission, 18 hour a day broadcast operations, minimum number of staff), they pay annual membership dues and are entitled to the benefits of membership.

 

[TheBigA]

NPR has criteria above and beyond those. IIRC the minimum for a full member station is 5 employees (on an FTE basis).

That's true, but I also believe you need to first be CPB qualified in order to become a full member station. In either case, there are no such requirements for EMF stations. As I said, in this world where local broadcasting is becoming extinct, one of the few dependable areas is public radio. That's why I bristle when someone compares NPR to EMF. If they can do it, why can't public radio. The answer is they could, but it wouldn't fulfill their mission, which is to serve the public. (rather than advertisers or stockholders)

 

[Delete My Account]

In some states, public radio is one of the few if not the last place you'll get radio coverage of events in state government and legislative chambers. That sort of coverage apart from light headlines isn't well provided in a lot of the areas public radio serves.

 

[Hyrum]

I go to the post office every day to send mail, rather than waiting for the mail carrier, and I’m nowhere near 100 years old. I’ve also worked for a public broadcasting station (KQED) which at that time was the most listened to public radio station in the US. I doubt they’d ever sell to a religious group, not even the Church of John Coltrane (yes, that’s a real church in SF). My mail delivery is more reliable than UPS. In fact, I’m still waiting on a package sent by UPS that’s been delayed day after day since last week. I just got another UPS delivery that was delayed daily since last week, too.

I am quite pleased that you have found a radio station you enjoy. I am also certain that with changes in rules that could be made, the most listened to public station in the US should have little trouble being transformed into a commercial station and supporting itself with advertising dollars and/or public donations without forcing taxpayers to find it through grants. It also pleases me that you have a superior post office, yet my tax paying heart is saddened that USPS was nearly two billion dollars upside down last year. Yet that brag that those lost dollars are an improvement over past deficits. Let's lesson your tax burden so you can afford a nice scotch while you sit on your patio, enjoy the sunset and wait for the late package to be delivered by the UPS truck that is fully funded by those who use the service and not the tax paying public. The cuts have to start somewhere, so if not here, where? Perhaps when can put properties of the Church of John Cultrain and all the other churches on the tax roles. The Catholics have a beautiful property in every major city that could generate revenue to put into stamps to fund the post office. They could offset the loss by increasing patronage by advertising on KQED. Another win/win for the taxpayers

 

[TheBigA]

I am also certain that with changes in rules that could be made, the most listened to public station in the US should have little trouble being transformed into a commercial station and supporting itself with advertising dollars and/or public donations without forcing taxpayers to find it through grants.

Aren't these boards already filled with people complaining about iHeart and Cumulus cutting staffs to feed greedy corporate owners and stockholders, airing programming to satisfy advertisers? Do we really need MORE of that? The reason why congress passed the public broadcasting act was because the greedy corporate broadcasters had stopped serving the public. Things haven't improved. The American people deserve to have a place where they can get news and information at all hours of the day, delivered by local staffs who are familiar with local needs, and who aren't aiming what they do at a sellable demographic. That's what this is about. Everybody else is chasing the almighty dollar. There's still one small place where people care about serving the public. Our regular poster Paul Walker could work at any radio station in the country. Instead he chooses to work for a small public station in rural Alaska. That's dedication. Talk to him about why he does it. He doesn't get stock options or royalties. It's all about serving his audience. That's the kind of dedication that's missing from commercial radio today.

 

[radiofan2023]

The Catholics have a beautiful property in every major city that could generate revenue to put into stamps to fund the post office. They could offset the loss by increasing patronage by advertising on KQED. Another win/win for the taxpayers

Catholics already have EWTN affiliates, shortwave with shortwave reception reports, podcasts, TV channels, etc and don’t need or want to buy a big tv/radio station like KQED.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Catholics already have EWTN affiliates, shortwave with shortwave reception reports, podcasts, TV channels, etc and don’t need or want to buy a big tv/radio station like KQED.

EWTN’s shortwave outlet, WEWN, has been off the air for many months now as none of their four transmitters is currently operational. Prior to that the operation had only been on the air sporadically with a minimal schedule using one transmitter for its Spanish language service.

Anyone’s guess as to if the station will ever make it back on the air.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

id love a few overpaid executives and lavish studios.... means i wouldnt be the only employee and could produce more local programming

 

[Hyrum]

Aren't these boards already filled with people complaining about iHeart and Cumulus cutting staffs to feed greedy corporate owners and stockholders, airing programming to satisfy advertisers?

Yes. I can't agree with them trying to interfere with the functioning of the inner workings of a corporation. If they don't agree with a company's moves and motives, don't patronize them. If enough people meters go dead and rating fail a smart group will change their policy...although I heart and Cumulus may not.

Do we really need MORE of that?

If you own stock in those companies, YES. Profit making companies must make money. If ad sales are not there, how are they to pay salaries. I know a lot of idiots will say "radio is in my blood and I have to be on the air and I'd do it for free", but competent employees have to be paid competitive salaries.

The reason why congress passed the public broadcasting act was because the greedy corporate broadcasters had stopped serving the public. Things haven't improved. The American people deserve to have a place where they can get news and information at all hours of the day, delivered by local staffs who are familiar with local needs, and who aren't aiming what they do at a sellable demographic.

Oh please. Find me a PBS station with a 24 hour newsroom. If people want the services you describe, they can choose to fund them without depending upon a completely broke government to do it. As I suggested, allow public stations to sell advertising and with all the gadzillions who seem to love and demand that they exist, it should be easy to prove a large and responsible audience to advertisers who will eagerly buy those ears. PBS can then hire more and more quality people, perhaps even the high level irreplaceable talents that get laid off from those greedy caproate shills and capitalistic pigs at big corporate radio. Then we can stop funding PSA and save the tax payers a buck. Another win/win

That's what this is about. Everybody else is chasing the almighty dollar. There's still one small place where people care about serving the public. Our regular poster Paul Walker could work at any radio station in the country. Instead he chooses to work for a small public station in rural Alaska. That's dedication. Talk to him about why he does it. He doesn't get stock options or royalties. It's all about serving his audience. That's the kind of dedication that's missing from commercial radio today.

Well God bless him (see what I did there?) He and every great talent is encouraged to donate their time and effort to make their local stations better if they choose. I don't object to that at all. I object to my tax dollars funding the salaries of stations we don't need, but keep because you want them. If everyone wants them, they will be profitable to operate. You seem like you'd be a great asset to your local radio station. You should volunteer to make it better and it can continue on doing its excellent work without dependence of public funds. Another win/win. And let me thank you in advance for your public service to the radio audience.

 

[TheBigA]

I object to my tax dollars funding the salaries of stations we don't need, but keep because you want them.

I object to my tax dollars funding war. I want none of my tax money to go to DOD. Shut it down. Get rid of all the guns and bombs. We don't need them. We did just fine 200 years ago without the big war machine. That's what I want to cut. Do you think they'll listen to me? Probably not.

We used to have a government that was made up of public servants. That's how they saw their role. Not anymore. They're now about power & greed, just like all the big corporations. Just like iHeart & Cumulus.

 

[Hyrum]

Catholics already have EWTN affiliates, shortwave with shortwave reception reports, podcasts, TV channels, etc and don’t need or want to buy a big tv/radio station like KQED.

I wasn't talking about their broadcast assets. I was taking about their churches, buildings, parish houses, and other assets. Certainly the broadcast assets should be taxed, but should not the other assets of churches be taxed? Were they not given tax exemptions to be non political do good organizations for their communities? Are they not very political in 2025? Do they require government support to do God's work and receive a great deal of tax dollars in addition to their current tax exemptions?

 

[Deus Ex Machiato]

We used to have a government that was made up of public servants. That's how they saw their role.

Bringing it back to the topic (aware we've been admonished to not veer too far into politics), the airwaves are still (at least on paper) public. The stations don't own the licenses, and there is still a bare minimum of responsibility to serve the public.

Public broadcasting does just that. NPR and PBS (and the local stations) provide a service that is not driven by sheer unadulterated greed. They are there to educate, entertain, inform, and provide a perspective that can't be found on the shouting "news" channels or the stations that play sitcoms until 9pm and then cop shows for 2 hours. Yeah, the signing of a treaty between a group of nations might not get as many eyeballs on it as a car chase or a story about spring break (with video of young people jiggling on a beach) but a case can certainly be made that there should be an outlet where the video of that treaty signing or a story about a new discovery by the JWST can make it on the airwaves without worrying about whether it will outperform the latest episode of "Oww My Balls." (Idiocracy reference)

Now, is everyone going to want a few pennies of their taxes spent on a station that interviews authors and reports on migratory bird patterns? No, but as you said, the federal budget isn't a menu where we can distribute our tax dollars to whichever agencies we fancy. Public broadcasting is a bit like the national parks. Developers and resource companies would love to strip the Grand Canyon of minerals and put condos in Yosemite, but like those lands, we've set aside part of the broadcast spectrum for a nobler purpose.

 

[wadio]

Water seeks it's own level, and so does money.

If the Corporation for Public Broadcasting stopped receiving taxpayer money, and an overall reduction in grants and funding reduced tax rates, people would have more money and more reason to donate to CPB.

If the programming is worth it to them, they probably would.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

EWTN’s shortwave outlet, WEWN, has been off the air for many months now as none of their four transmitters is currently operational. Prior to that the operation had only been on the air sporadically with a minimal schedule using one transmitter for its Spanish language service.

Anyone’s guess as to if the station will ever make it back on the air.

ACtually, its not anyones guess... i have been in touch with their director of radio programming whos reached out to engineering... its a parts issue, since april 2023... and back then and as recent as about a onth ago, ive been told they hope to get the parts and be back on the air eventually.... each time i was old "a few months"

 

[Hyrum]

Bringing it back to the topic (aware we've been admonished to not veer too far into politics), the airwaves are still (at least on paper) public. The stations don't own the licenses, and there is still a bare minimum of responsibility to serve the public.

Public broadcasting does just that. NPR and PBS (and the local stations) provide a service that is not driven by sheer unadulterated greed. They are there to educate, entertain, inform, and provide a perspective that can't be found on the shouting "news" channels or the stations that play sitcoms until 9pm and then cop shows for 2 hours. Yeah, the signing of a treaty between a group of nations might not get as many eyeballs on it as a car chase or a story about spring break (with video of young people jiggling on a beach) but a case can certainly be made that there should be an outlet where the video of that treaty signing or a story about a new discovery by the JWST can make it on the airwaves without worrying about whether it will outperform the latest episode of "Oww My Balls." (Idiocracy reference)

Now, is everyone going to want a few pennies of their taxes spent on a station that interviews authors and reports on migratory bird patterns? No, but as you said, the federal budget isn't a menu where we can distribute our tax dollars to whichever agencies we fancy. Public broadcasting is a bit like the national parks. Developers and resource companies would love to strip the Grand Canyon of minerals and put condos in Yosemite, but like those lands, we've set aside part of the broadcast spectrum for a nobler purpose.

I have a helpful suggestion about those news channels broadcasting sitcoms and Cops reruns. Don't view them. If enough people stop watching they will change the lineup. If people are watching and the are making a profit, they are apparently doing something enough people enjoy so that they are making a profit, which is the actual reason companies pay those high electric costs to broadcast. It is the American dream come true. On the other side of the coin, if you don't have enough local authors on the air talking about banning the color red on all future road maps, you will be pleased to know that audio books on so many interesting subjects are available at your local, publicly funded library. Don't thank me. I am pleased to be helpful.

 

[Deus Ex Machiato]

If people are watching and the are making a profit, they are apparently doing something enough people enjoy so that they are making a profit, which is the actual reason companies pay those high electric costs to broadcast. It is the American dream come true.

I will take your advice in stride. The only thing that's important is money. Profit above all else. It is the American dream. I believe it was Thomas Paine (or was it Jefferson?) who said "dolla dolla bill's y'all. It's all about that money."

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some methamphetamines I have to lace with dodgy fentanyl. The profit margin on that stuff is ridiculous!
/snark.

 

[Hyrum]

I will take your advice in stride. The only thing that's important is money. Profit above all else. It is the American dream. I believe it was Thomas Paine (or was it Jefferson?) who said "dolla dolla bill's y'all. It's all about that money."

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some methamphetamines I have to lace with dodgy fentanyl. The profit margin on that stuff is ridiculous!
/snark.

Enjoy your high. When you come back to reality and look at a nearly 40 trillion dollars in debt, you can talk with the other boys at rehab about exactly what cuts should be made because cuts must be made. I figured public radio cuts, although painful to an astute high brow ear will effect the fewest citizens. Most of those effected will be in a position to fulfill their audio needs elsewhere. If you stop taking expensive drugs, you will too. Congratulations on recognizing your problem. It is the first step to recovery

 

[Cold Coffee]

Many in public broadcasting especially the community radio movement consider selling commercials to be prostitution of the airwaves.