Meetings

RESOLUTION

PUBLIC SESSION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Monday, December 11, 2023

unanimously

WHEREAS,

Under the provisions of the Public Broadcasting Act, CPB makes grants to eligible public radio stations in a manner intended to provide for the needs and requirements of stations so that they may serve their local communities and audiences; and

WHEREAS,

The Community Service Grant (CSG) program is the primary mechanism for CPB to provide this financial support to local stations; and

WHEREAS,

CPB management has consulted with a panel of radio station representatives regarding changes to CSG policy and invited and received comment directly from public radio stations as part of this consultation process; and

WHEREAS,

CPB management has reviewed and endorses the panel’s recommendations that current policies be retained – including organization by grantee coverage area population (CAP) categories, alignment of minimum non-federal financial support and staffing requirements with CAP categories, methodology for reporting indirect administrative support, extension of the incentive grant to all grantees, applying the 1.25 multiplier for minority grantees’ NFFS up to $5 million, and the three-year probationary period for grantees that do not meet eligibility requirements – except as outlined below.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT

The CPB Board of Directors hereby adopts CPB management’s recommendations for the following changes to radio CSG policy.

Recommendation 1

Base Grants

Increase the base grant amounts in coverage area population (CAP) categories 1, 2 and 3 for fiscal year 2025 by ten percent.

Continue to align base grants with CAP categories and adjust all base grants proportionately with the CPB appropriation. Continue to provide base grants for grantees designated as minority or rural an amount no lower than the CAP category 3 base grant.

Recommendation 2

Incentive Grants

To calculate the incentive grant portion of the CSG, implement the tiering of non-federal financial support (NFFS) as follows:

• Tier 1: Apply the incentive rate of return (IRR)[1] to 100% of a grantee’s NFFS for each dollar up to $3 million.
• Tier 2: Apply the IRR to 95% of a grantee’s NFFS for each dollar over $3 million but less than $15 million.
• Tier 3: Apply the IRR to 80% of a grantee’s NFFS for each dollar over $15 million.

RESOLUTION

PUBLIC SESSION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

WASHINGTON, DC

Monday, December 11, 2023

unanimously

WHEREAS,

Under the provisions of the Public Broadcasting Act, CPB makes grants to eligible public television stations in a manner intended to provide for the needs and requirements of stations so that they may serve their local communities and audiences; and

WHEREAS,

The Community Service Grant (CSG) program is the primary mechanism for CPB to provide this financial support to local stations; and

WHEREAS,

CPB management has consulted with a panel of television station representatives regarding changes to CSG policy and invited and received comment directly from public television stations as part of this consultation process; and

WHEREAS,

CPB management has reviewed and endorses the panel’s recommendations that current policies be retained – including the base grant formula, methodology for reporting indirect administrative support, the minimum non-federal financial support eligibility requirement, and the second base grant policy for mergers – except as outlined below.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT

The CPB Board of Directors hereby adopts CPB management’s recommendations for the following changes to television CSG policy.

Recommendation 1

Incentive Grant

Retain the tiering of non-federal financial support (NFFS) to calculate the incentive grant portion of the CSG with a change to Tier 3, applying the incentive rate of return (IRR) [1] to 80% instead of 95% of a grantees’ NFFS:

• Tier 1: Apply the IRR to 100% of a grantee’s NFFS for each dollar up to $3 million.
• Tier 2: Apply the IRR to 92.5% of a grantee’s NFFS for each dollar over $3 million but less than $20 million.
• Tier 3: Apply the IRR to 80% of a grantee’s NFFS for each dollar of $20 million or more.

Recommendation 2

Incentive Grant

Calculate the incentive grants of grantees that report NFFS of $35 million or more by using a five-year average NFFS. Then, tier the average NFFS per CPB policy.

Discontinue the current year-over-year growth limit on NFFS and options for grantees reporting more than $35 million in NFFS to make allocations of NFFS into future years.   

Recommendation 3

Universal Service Support Grant

Increase the pool for the Universal Service Support Grant program from 2% of the CPB’s federal appropriation to 2.2%.

RESOLUTION

PUBLIC SESSION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Monday, December 11, 2023

unanimously

RESOLVED,

That the Board of Directors adopts the following board meeting dates and locations for calendar year 2024:

Date:                                                                                       Location:

Tuesday, February 13 (2:00 - 5:00 pm ET)                            Virtual

Wednesday, April 10 – Thursday, April 11                           Washington, D.C.

June dates TBD                                                                      Virtual

Thursday, September 26 (Annual Meeting)                           Washington, D.C.

Tuesday, November 19 – Wednesday, November 20             Washington, D.C.

RESOLUTION
PUBLIC SESSION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Monday, December 11, 2023

unanimously

Resolved,

That the Board of Directors

of the

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Expresses its Heartfelt Condolences

to the Family and Friends of

Samuel C. O. Holt

Author of the Public Radio Study

Senior Executive of PBS and NPR

Winner of the 1983 Edward R. Murrow Award

We will long remember with gratitude Samuel C. O. Holt as a visionary researcher who helped lay the foundation for NPR and PBS’ national programming services.

In late 1968, Sam Holt was commissioned by CPB and the Ford Foundation to report on the state of educational radio and make recommendations to build the new public radio system. Many of his recommendations from his 1969 Public Radio Study were implemented when National Public Radio was founded the following year.

As a founding member of PBS’ staff in 1970, Holt coordinated programming, helping to create programs including “Masterpiece Theatre” and “The MacNeil-Lehrer Report.” In 1977, he joined NPR as Senior Vice President for Programming and helped launch such celebrated programs as “Morning Edition.” He won the Edward R. Murrow Award from the CPB in 1983, which recognizes outstanding contributions to public radio.

The CPB Board of Directors marks Samuel Holt’s leadership, vision, and extraordinary service to public media and the American public with deep respect and appreciation and offers our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

RESOLUTION
PUBLIC SESSION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Monday, December 11, 2023

unanimously

Resolved,

That the Board of Directors

of the

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

 Expresses its Heartfelt Condolences

 to the Family and Friends of

Maria Martin

Pioneering Latina Public Radio Journalist

Creator, Latino USA

We will long remember public radio journalist Maria Emilia Martin, who dedicated her professional life to bringing Latino voices and stories to English-language public radio and helped inspire and launch the careers of a cadre of Latino journalists in the U.S. and Central America.

Maria got her start in 1975 at KBBF in Santa Rosa, Calif., the first Latino-owned community radio station in the U.S. She was an editor on NPR's national show Latin File, then in 1990 became NPR’s first and only Latin American affairs editor on the national desk.

She left NPR in 1993 to create the English-language public radio program Latino USA, which was praised by President Clinton at its official launch on May 5, 1993, at the Public Radio Conference. Latino USA is now the longest running national Latino news and cultural public radio program in the nation.

In 2015, Maria Martin was inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame.

The CPB Board of Directors marks Maria Martin’s leadership, vision, and extraordinary service to public media and the American public with deep respect and appreciation and offers our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.