Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Statement on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017
The US Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, which provides $445 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's (CPB) FY 2019 advance appropriation, $50 million for upgrading and replacing the public broadcasting interconnection system and $25.741 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 all Americans.
On behalf of the millions of Americans who consume and connect with public media every day, CPB would like to thank Congress for its continued strong support. The federal appropriation provides the foundation of this unique public-private partnership, essential funding for the nearly 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations across the country. Federal funding ensures that public media serves rural, small town and urban communities alike, and makes possible stations’ service in early childhood education, public safety, connecting citizens to our history, and promoting civil discussions.
Statement from Corporation for Public Broadcasting on the President’s Budget Proposal Eliminating Funding for Public Media
Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), made the following statement regarding the President Donald Trump's proposed elimination of federal funding for public media:
“There is no viable substitute for federal funding that ensures Americans have universal access to public media’s educational and informational programming and services. The elimination of federal funding to CPB would initially devastate and ultimately destroy public media’s role in early childhood education, public safety, connecting citizens to our history, and promoting civil discussions – all for Americans in both rural and urban communities. Public media is one of America’s best investments. At approximately $1.35 per citizen per year, it pays huge dividends to every American. From expanding opportunity, beginning with proven children’s educational content to providing essential news and information as well as ensuring public safety and homeland security through emergency alerts, this vital investment strengthens our communities. It is especially critical for those living in small towns and in rural and underserved areas. Viewers and listeners appreciate that public media is non-commercial and available for free to all Americans. We will work with the new Administration and Congress in raising awareness that elimination of federal funding to CPB begins the collapse of the public media system itself and the end of this essential national service.”
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board of Directors Elects Lori Gilbert as Chair and Bruce Ramer as Vice Chair
The Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting, unanimously elected Lori Gilbert and Bruce Ramer to serve one-year terms as chair and vice chair, respectively.
Loretta Sutliff was appointed to the CPB board by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate in August 2013. She works under the broadcast name Lori Gilbert and specializes in providing news to rural communities in northeastern Nevada. She is the longtime news director and host of a daily local news show for Elko Broadcasting Company's KELK-AM and KLKO-FM, named “News Station of the Year," by the Associated Press Television and Radio Association in 1999. In addition to her work in radio, she is the news director and a reporter for KENV-TV (NBC). Gilbert is serving her second term on the CPB board and chairs the Education Committee. She had served as vice chair since 2014. Her term expires in 2018.
Bruce M. Ramer was reappointed to the CPB board by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate in August 2013. He was first appointed to the board by President George W. Bush. Ramer is an attorney and partner at Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, a firm specializing in entertainment and media matters, and was named one of the top 100 lawyers in California. He joined the board of KCET in 1992 and was the chair of its board from 2001-2003. He is a member of the board of trustees of the University of Southern California (USC) and serves on the boards of the Herrhausen Institute for International Dialogue of Deutsche Bank and the National Archives Foundation. He is also chair of the USC Institute on Entertainment Law and Business and a member of the board of councilors of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, the USC Gould School of Law and the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education. He served as board chair from 2010 to 2012 and currently chairs the Audit and Finance Committee. His term expires in 2018.
CPB Awards American Graduate Community Grants to 33 Public Media Stations
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced $6.2 million in new, American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen initiative grants to public media stations in 33 markets, focusing on where graduation gaps exist for students of different races, ethnicities, family incomes, and disabilities, as well as those with limited English proficiency.
Over the next two years, American Graduate public media station grantees will work with their local communities to increase understanding about the challenges for at-risk youth and develop long term solutions emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation in early education and the need for consistent caring adults.
Stations will highlight local leaders who have helped communities increase graduation rates and the everyday heroes in a child’s life who are committed to improving education outcomes as “American Graduate Champions.”
CPB Awards Firelight Media Grant to Expand its Producers' Lab
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has awarded Firelight Media Producers’ Lab, a public television documentary mentorship project, a $2.55 million dollar grant to expand recruitment to all regions of the United States, bringing more diverse talent into public media.
Firelight Media’s Producers’ Lab is designed to advance the careers of diverse filmmakers, providing a structure and community that supports producers throughout the development of their projects. Through the grant, the Producers’ Lab will be able to recruit 30-40 producers over three years from underrepresented regions including the South, Midwest, Southwest, Alaska, and Hawaii.
The producers will work with Stanley Nelson, as well as with a team of senior producers, writers, editors, and fundraising specialists to create content that brings a wider range of diversity to the public broadcasting schedule.