Corporation for Public Broadcasting, February 5, 2008

The President today submitted his Fiscal Year 2009 budget to Congress, recommending the following for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB): a $200 million rescission from the $400 million already appropriated by Congress for FY 2009; a $220 million rescission from the $420 million already appropriated by Congress for FY 2010; no advance appropriation for FY 2011; and no additional funding in FY 2009 for public television and radio digital conversion or upgrades to the Public Radio Satellite System (although CPB would be permitted to use a portion of its FY 2009 regular appropriation for these purposes). If enacted, these cuts would represent a 56 percent reduction in funding from CPB's FY 2008 levels and would be felt in all CPB programs, beginning with the station Community Service Grants. "While we are acutely aware of the difficult budgetary choices facing the federal government, the cuts proposed in the budget for public broadcasting are draconian," said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. "Implementation of these severe cuts would impact millions of Americans who utilize public broadcasting on so many levels beginning with educational programming and services. Further, it would work to degrade a 40-year partnership the American people overwhelmingly support and their elected representatives in Congress have repeatedly voted to strengthen."

In many parts of the United States, local public radio and television stations are the last locally-owned and locally-operated media outlets. While the Federal investment comprises only 16 percent of the average station's budget, for small stations in rural and minority communities, that percentage is much higher. The proposed budget, if enacted, would force these stations to reduce services or shut down entirely.

For over 40 years, public television has made a vital contribution to education and an informed and strengthened civil society. Today, public television stations, working closely with K-12 schools in their communities as well as with colleges and universities, are engaged in providing educational services, ranging from special reading programs for parents and childcare providers, to professional development resources for teachers, to online activities designed to spark student learning in subjects such as math and science and more. In September, public television stations in cities across the country will distribute over 80,000 DVDs to children in low-income families that are designed to help them learn how to read. The Administration's proposed cuts would undermine efforts to confront low literacy rates, and to improve student achievement in math and science as well as college and work readiness.

Later this week, CPB will transmit its request to Congress for a $483 million advance appropriation for FY 2011 as well as funding for digital conversion, radio interconnection and Ready To Learn for FY 2009.

"As this budget process progresses, we will continue to work hard, together with our public television and radio stations and with our system partners, to make the best case for America's public service media," said Harrison.

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