CPB Statement on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018

Washington, DC (March 23, 2018) -- Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), made the following statement.

“Today, the U.S. Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, which provides $445 million for CPB’s FY 2020 advance appropriation, $20 million for upgrading and replacing the public broadcasting interconnection system and $27.7 million for the Department of Education’s Ready To Learn program.

The legislation reaffirms that federal funding for public media is an investment that continues to deliver proven value and service to the American people. On behalf of the millions of Americans who benefit from public media’s services every day, CPB thanks Congress for its longstanding support.

The federal appropriation is the foundation of a uniquely American public-private partnership, providing essential funding for the nearly 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations across the country. Only through the federal appropriation can public media serve every American wherever they live, whatever their economic circumstance, free of charge and commercial free.

The funds stewarded by CPB enable public media stations to play an essential role in public safety and civic leadership as well as in providing trusted local journalism, high-quality educational programming and local services to communities throughout the nation—rural, small town and urban communities alike. Because of Congress’ support, public media can continue to tell America’s diverse story in a way that enhances our civil society and connects us to one another.

Further, the bill provides for the ongoing maintenance and replacement of the public broadcasting interconnection system, which serves as the content delivery infrastructure for all public media stations. CPB appreciates Congress’ support in transitioning interconnection to a yearly funding paradigm, and it will ensure that these dollars are spent to achieve a cost-effective and technologically advanced systemwide infrastructure and services that benefit the American people.

CPB looks forward to continuing our work under the Department of Education’s Ready To Learn program, an innovative public media project that supports the math, literacy and science skills of our nation’s youngest learners, especially those who come from low-income households. This valuable work is carried out nationally and locally in collaboration with leading children’s producers, educational technologists, researchers, local public television stations, and community partners. Recent research shows that Ready To Learn continues to help children prepare for school and is an educational resource trusted by parents, teachers and caregivers to help children learn – inside and outside the classroom.”

About the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of nearly 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television and related online services. For more information, visit www.cpb.org, follow us on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe for email updates.