Patricia Harrison, CEO of CPB, Responds to President Obama's FY 2013 Budget Request

President Obama … submitted his Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget to Congress. In it, he requested full funding – $445 million – for CPB’s FY 2015 advance appropriation. CPB’s two-year advance appropriation, in place since 1976, serves as a “firewall” designed to protect public media’s independence. The federal appropriation provides essential funding to local and national content and approximately 70 percent goes directly to public radio and television stations across the country to help them better serve their communities. The President’s request reflects the value of public media’s in-depth news reporting, our commitment to children, and initiatives such as American Graduate, which focuses on public media’s core value of education. The request also reflects the unique and powerful service that public media provides for free to listeners and viewers. We appreciate the President’s support. His request reaffirms that federal funding for public media is a vital investment – one that continues to deliver proven value and service to our country.”