of course weve done what we can, coast alaska, a station services provider and advocacy group has been doing it too. the governor has veto'd funding for us for years.. our own state rep, begich voted for the recision
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Alaska What The CPB Funding Cut Would Mean To Rural Alaska
- Thread starter SomeRadioGuy
- Start date
of course weve done what we can, coast alaska, a station services provider and advocacy group has been doing it too. the governor has veto'd funding for us for years.. our own state rep, begich voted for the recision
Murkowski has been vocally opposed to the rescissions bill.
Murkowski pushes back on White House rescission of public broadcasting funds
The Alaska senator was among a few Republicans on the Appropriations Committee who objected to clawing back money for foreign aid and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
www.kyuk.org
But the bill has been presented to congress as a defund NPR bill, not a defund local radio bill.
As far as I know, the state doesn't own any radio or TV stations.
Most of Alaska is rural, and most of Alaska west of Anchorage and the Kenai peninsula is highly rural and majority indigenous populations, who depend on stations like KSKO. One would think that the state legislators for those areas would be concerned about funding cuts if so many public stations in those areas have to pull the plug because of funding cuts. From what SRG is saying, it would seem that these rural, western Alaska public radio stations are as important to the people as the roads and ferries are to the other sections of the state. I.e., necessary infrastructure.
Begich is your state's Congressman in DC. I was referring to your State reps, the ones in your State Legislature. One of them, in the Dillingham district, is apparently your Legislature's majority leader. Certainly a guy like that could understand the need for public radio in places like McGrath.
Your governor may have vetoed funding for you for years, but your station had dependable CPB funding at those times, obviously.
And equally as obvious, that may change. So my question is just how much are these State leaders aware of the dire situation your vital public radio infrastructure will be in if CPB funding is removed?
and im just telling you what the major of government people here think.. if theyre R and or on the road system, theyre prob. against it
From what I've read the Dillingham rep (Legislature leader) is independent and the House is majority coalition Democrat with a few R's thrown in. Obviously, I'm not in Alaska, and can only glean what I can read online about your state's system. But if your Legislative leader is from Dillingham and is part Native American, and Independent, maybe it would help if somebody contacted him about the issue.
Then again, politics being what they are, maybe it wouldn't. But I'm just curious if anyone has tried, being that this Federal funding is in danger of being ended.
He doesn't vote on federal appropriations. Here's a summary on Alaska senators:
Public media is in the crosshairs. How will Alaska’s congressional delegation vote? | Alaska Beacon
In a commentary, Nathaniel Herz asks whether Alaska’s elected officials vote to buck Trump and preserve public media’s federal funding.
alaskabeacon.com
It sounds like Sullivan is aware of the importance of public radio in Alaska.
trust me, theres people lots smarter than me or anyone on this message board advocating for alaska public radio stations
For radio like Paul is doing, these dollars ar the difference between small communities not getting essential information for their respective community.
Paul is running stations in communities that are isolated and too small to fund a station. The information Paul provides is essential to the community. If it is not a message from off-the-grid folks outside town, water systm boil orders or any oher communicaion from the school and city and lifesaving information. And Paul's is not the only ones. KTNA in Talkeetna is in the same boat. The translator in McGrath provides local essential info, to my understanding, in the 30 seconds each hour. Literally, if these staions go dark, there will be nothing and in many cases nothing on the AM or FM dial.
Paul is running stations in communities that are isolated and too small to fund a station. The information Paul provides is essential to the community. If it is not a message from off-the-grid folks outside town, water systm boil orders or any oher communicaion from the school and city and lifesaving information. And Paul's is not the only ones. KTNA in Talkeetna is in the same boat. The translator in McGrath provides local essential info, to my understanding, in the 30 seconds each hour. Literally, if these staions go dark, there will be nothing and in many cases nothing on the AM or FM dial.
I'm well aware that a State Legislator doesn't vote on Federal appropriations. I was referring to STATE legislators.He doesn't vote on federal appropriations. Here's a summary on Alaska senators:
Public media is in the crosshairs. How will Alaska’s congressional delegation vote? | Alaska Beacon
In a commentary, Nathaniel Herz asks whether Alaska’s elected officials vote to buck Trump and preserve public media’s federal funding.
It sounds like Sullivan is aware of the importance of public radio in Alaska.
The Alaska State Legislature is responsible for possible State appropriations that could keep the rural, public radio infrastructure operating, should the CPB funding be stopped. And Alaska's Speaker of the (Alaska State) House, Bryce Edgmon, is an Independent who is from Dillingham -- which is located in rural west Alaska just as McGrath is.
Alaska State Legislature
He's the guy in the middle. Grew up in a Yupik speaking home, in Dillingham, which has its own public radio station, KDLG. One would think a politician of that stature would understand the importance to the State of Alaska of keeping public radio alive in the rural areas where it is needed.
Thanks for posting the link on Sullivan.
Paul already said that the governor has veto'd money for broadcasting. In other threads, I've linked articles about budget shortfalls in Alaska. Tax revenue is down because of oil prices going down. They're cutting money for other essential services such as schools. The president is cutting federal money for education and disaster relief too. The states are under a lot of pressure.
Governor Dunleavy Signs FY2026 Budget: Vetoes Reflect Reduced Revenue Outlook - Mike Dunleavy
Governor Mike Dunleavy signed the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for the State of Alaska on June 12, 2025. After vetoes, the state budget amounts to $14.7 billion. The Spring Revenue Forecast projected $68 per barrel oil in FY2026. However, market dynamics have changed since March. The state has...
gov.alaska.gov
Alaska is America's worst state for business in 2025 as falling oil prices sink economy
A big drop in crude prices year over year leaves Alaska, reliant on oil for revenue, at the bottom of CNBC’s annual Top States for Business rankings.
www.nbcchicago.com
Apparently the president is threatening congress that they must defund CPB or else:
radioink.com
If any of us threatened members of congress, we would be arrested.
Trump Issues Ultimatum to GOP: Defund NPR or Pay the Price - Radio Ink
Trump is pressuring Senate Republicans to defund NPR and PBS — and threatening to pull endorsements from those who don’t fall in line.
radioink.com
If any of us threatened members of congress, we would be arrested.
Understood. But -- looking at the proposed budget -- there still will be some basic services maintained. It's not like the state has zero money to spend. And if I were in rural public radio up there in AK, I'd consider contacting the head of the House at the very least, and voice my concerns there. One can be resigned to losing the station, or at least attempt to try. The AK Legislature House speaker is there for a reason. To pay attention to the concerns of the citizens in his district.Paul already said that the governor has veto'd money for broadcasting. In other threads, I've linked articles about budget shortfalls in Alaska. Tax revenue is down because of oil prices going down. They're cutting money for other essential services such as schools. The president is cutting federal money for education and disaster relief too. The states are under a lot of pressure.
Governor Dunleavy Signs FY2026 Budget: Vetoes Reflect Reduced Revenue Outlook - Mike Dunleavy
Governor Mike Dunleavy signed the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for the State of Alaska on June 12, 2025. After vetoes, the state budget amounts to $14.7 billion. The Spring Revenue Forecast projected $68 per barrel oil in FY2026. However, market dynamics have changed since March. The state has...
Alaska is America's worst state for business in 2025 as falling oil prices sink economy
A big drop in crude prices year over year leaves Alaska, reliant on oil for revenue, at the bottom of CNBC’s annual Top States for Business rankings.
Here's what Paul said about that:
The fact that Murkowski and Sullivan are aware of it tells me there are powerful people involved. Still no reason to give up on the federal fight. That's what this thread is about.
If they don’t vote by 7/18 (which means the recession bill fails) is he going to go after every R in the Senate?
He didn't say, likely because he doesn't know. That's the easy way out for the senate. They can just let the measure die and they don't have to put their asses on the line. Typically that's what they do. It's always easier to do nothing. That's what the founders intended. But if they do, that will really infuriate the president, and who knows what he'll do next.
KFSK Petersburg is featured in a New York Times podcast:
The focus is on local programming , even a "tradio" session.
Ironically, the interview also identifies a local "pirate" operator on 88.5 - the Lutherin Church broadcasts for shut-ins.
The focus is on local programming , even a "tradio" session.
Ironically, the interview also identifies a local "pirate" operator on 88.5 - the Lutherin Church broadcasts for shut-ins.
The BBC, which itself is under a funding crunch, looks at Public Radio cuts in the U.S.: How Trump public broadcasting cuts could hit rural America