CPB Statement on President Biden’s Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 13, 2023) — Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), made the following statement today on President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget, which proposes $575 million in FY 2026 for CPB’s advance appropriation; $60 million for the public broadcasting interconnection system and infrastructure; and $31 million for the Department of Education’s Ready To Learn program in FY 2024.

“We are grateful for the President’s budget request, which provides meaningful support for public media, affirming its essential role in strengthening our nation’s civil society. The federal appropriation ensures universal access to free, high-quality, innovative, and diverse content that educates and enriches the public dialogue.

“CPB funding maintains the essential infrastructure of our nation's emergency alert system, provides research-based and tested educational resources for our nation's youngest learners, and lifelong learning for all citizens, supports local journalism in every part of the country, and enhances the promotion of local arts and culture, generating economic activity in communities across the nation.

“With more than 70% of the appropriation going directly to 1,207 public radio and 357 public television stations across the country, public media is one of the last locally managed and operated media entities in a time of increased national media consolidation and ownership. Federal support is particularly important for rural and underserved communities where there are fewer—and in some cases no other—media options.

“Further, we appreciate the President’s recognition of the importance of modernizing and maintaining public media’s interconnection system and investing in shared infrastructure that will benefit all stations, and ultimately the American people. The $60 million requested in FY 2024 will continue necessary investments in the infrastructure that disseminates content across the public media system, including public safety and alerting messages, and will ensure current investments in digital technologies realize their full capacities.

“We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to ensure continued funding for a public media system that is a reflection of and is accessible to the American people.”

About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television and related online services. For more information, visit cpb.org, follow us on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook and LinkedIn and subscribe for other updates.