House of Representatives Restores $100 Million in Funding for Public Broadcasting

Bipartisan majority supports Obey-Lowey-Leach amendment to restore funding to grants to local public stations and national programming

WASHINGTON – June 23, 2005 – John Lawson, president and CEO of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS), applauded the actions of the House of Representatives today to restore $100 million in federal funding for public broadcasting. Lawson said: “A bipartisan majority of the House today affirmed the view of millions of Americans that public broadcasting is essential. I am grateful to Representatives David Obey, Nita Lowey and Jim Leach for their leadership and support of local public television and radio stations across the country.”

The House Appropriations Committee had proposed slashing funding for grants for local public television and radio station operations and national programming through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Appropriations Committee set-off a firestorm of public criticism by proposing to reduce the FY 2006 appropriation to only $300 million. The Committee also eliminated funding for the highly-successful Ready To Learn program, grants for the federally-mandated digital conversion of stations, and funding for the satellite interconnection system that distributes PBS and other programming to local public television stations. Together these cuts meant a 45 percent reduction from the previous year’s level.

Lawson said: “I am inspired by the response of millions of Americans, who understood that these cuts were tantamount to a direct attack on public television and radio. More than 100 of our stations, some of the last, locally controlled and independent media voices in our country, let their communities know about these cuts. That community, in turn, let Congress know how important public broadcasting is to the people of America.” Lawson continued: “Without this victory, our stations would have been in a severe financial bind. Some smaller stations would have gone off of the air, with the entire industry being placed at risk from a very negative ripple effect.”

Lawson earlier observed that local stations were not helpless in the face of the funding assault. APTS led stations through a campaign to energize viewers, station board members, community partners, and supporters and encourage them to reach out to Members of Congress. Lawson said: “This campaign was a major achievement, and a real testament to the commitment of our station leaders. Using calls, letters and face-to-face visits, we were able to solidify congressional support for public broadcasting and our funding requests, leading to the victory we enjoyed today.” Public radio stations also went to their communities for support, and several advocacy organizations also mobilized to oppose the cuts.

Despite the victory, public broadcasting still suffered funding cuts in other areas. The House proposed eliminating funding for Ready To Learn, a vital educational program that serves tens of millions of American kids.” Ready To Learn is an innovative early learning partnership between PBS, local public television stations and the U.S. Department of Education. Ready To Learn integrates, at no cost to consumers, commercial-free children’s educational television and online resources with community outreach to help parents and educators prepare young children for success in school. Award-winning Ready To Learn television programs include Arthur, DragonTales, Clifford, Between the Lions, Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street, Maya & Miguel, and Postcards from Buster.

Lawson said the fight for funding now moves to the U.S. Senate. “We appeal to the Senate to again play its historic role of strong, bipartisan support for public broadcasting,” he said.

# # #

Contact: Kristin Wilson 202-654-4222