This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Public Broadcasting act. Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act into law, saying:
It announces to the world that our Nation wants more than just material wealth; our Nation wants more than a “chicken in every pot.” We in America have an appetite for excellence, too.
While we work every day to produce new goods and to create new wealth, we want most of all to enrich man’s spirit.
That is the purpose of this act.
It will get part of its support from our Government. But it will be carefully guarded from Government or from party control. It will be free, and it will be independent–and it will belong to all of our people.
The Public Broadcasting Act created the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. They give grants to TV and radio stations – stations that are non-profit and education and which do not play commercials. Stations like WORT.
The CPB budget, like all federal dollars, is determined by Congress. And this year, the Trump Administration has proposed defunding it.
With us to discuss what this means is Sally Kane, CEO of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. They’re a non-profit network of 200 stations across the country.
For more information on how you can help, visit protectmypublicmedia.org and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.