Public Broadcasters Use Web to Make Their Budget Case

PUBLIC BROADCASTERS USE WEB TO MAKE THEIR BUDGET CASE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Elizabeth Jensen]
Ten days ago, National Public Radio, the Public Broadcasting Service and the lobbying arm of the Association of Public Television Stations introduced a joint promotional Web site to generate grass-roots messages to members of Congress. Local stations are publicizing the site (www.tellthempublicmatters.org). Last year, public broadcasters were sent scrambling when a House Appropriations subcommittee suggested cutting $100 million from the already reduced financing proposed for public broadcasting in the Bush administration's budget. The financing was eventually restored, but only after a frantic lobbying blitz, including a flurry of messages on public radio and TV stations, as well as discussions on PBS news and talk programs. Last year's on-air efforts by stations to preserve the allocation had some critics warning about the illegality of using federal funds for lobbying purposes. Stations denied that any such funds were used in those efforts. The Web site addresses the concern via a disclaimer noting that it is "not paid for with federal funds." This year the budget process isn't expected to get fully under way for a few more weeks, and public broadcasters are not certain what to expect. The administration's proposed budget, from February, suggested $201.5 million in cuts for public broadcasting, a reduction of almost 38 percent, according to the Web site. Federal funds account for about 15 percent of a station's revenue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/24/business/media/24pbs.html
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