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
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.
[1] IRR is the incentive rate of return or CPB’s match to each eligible dollar of NFFS. The IRR is derived by dividing the total amount of system NFFS dollars approved for matching by the total amount of dollars in the incentive grant pool. The incentive grant pool is comprised of the balance of CSG funds available after the base grant and supplemental grants are calculated.