President Trump’s new head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered an investigation of NPR and PBS, with an eye toward unraveling federal funding for all public broadcasting.
FCC Investigates Broadcast Underwriting?!?!
February 2nd, 2025
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced an “investigation” of underwriting announcements by PBS and NPR. It’s agency “weaponizing” against public broadcasting and it’s mission of informing the public.
Call the FCC 888-225-5322; your Congresscritter (find my Rep); and send a postcard to White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, 20500.
Why?
Trump’s FCC chief opens investigation into NPR and PBS
From the link, here’s the short version, another attempt at opening the door to eliminate federal funding:
“I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials,” Chairman Brendan Carr wrote on Wednesday to the presidents and chief executives of NPR and
PBS, Katherine Maher and Paula A. Kerger, respectively. “In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited
commercial advertisements.”
Really! Do they not know history of broadcasting underwriting? I’m remembering when Reagan’s admin cut funding to Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and they allowed underwriting, private and corporate funding on which broadcasters quickly became dependent. I also remember at that early time spending a week hustling the first underwriting at KFAI to fund a week’s long live broadcast of the 7th International Indian Treaty Council at White Earth (quite the adventure, for another day). That budget slash really hurt Community Radio stations like KFAI.org.
UNDERWRITING BEGAN WHEN OTHER FUNDING WAS CUT! And now this.
Even wiki acknowledges the relative importance of underwriting in public broadcasting budgets:
In the United States, public broadcasters may receive some funding from both federal and state sources, but generally most of their financial support comes from underwriting by foundations and businesses (ranging from small shops to corporations), along with audience contributions via pledge drives. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_broadcasting, emphasis added)
The rules for underwriting ID announcements are pretty clear (I remember when it first started, there was a specific limit of words, I think 7 or 11? So long ago, and it’s changed, errr, “enhanced.”)
Underwriting Identification for Licensed Noncommercial Broadcasters
See also:
Enhanced Underwriting for Non-Commercial Broadcast Stations
Public broadcasting has long been a “Conservative” target for elimination. From CIA (!) files made public:
Give Up on Public Broadcasting
And other articles with more history:
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