Congresswoman Fudge Strongly Supports Funding for NPR, an Essential Service to Inform Elderly and Low-Income Communitites

Press Release

Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) issued the following statement today regarding the passage of legislation to defund public broadcasting:

"Cutting funding for National Public Radio would greatly diminish the ability of local stations to serve low-income neighborhoods, as well as the elderly. It would disproportionately affect constituents of my district, making it more difficult for them to access vital news and educational programming.

For many in Ohio's 11th district, radio stations are the primary means for obtaining news, emergency notices, and public safety alerts. Many low-income communities have learned to depend on public outlets to receive essential news and programming. Eliminating federal funding will inhibit local stations from delivering programming to the Greater Cleveland area, because of an increase in cost.

Seventy percent of the $430 million allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is channeled to the nation's public radio and television stations. CPB pays for the interconnection that ties the entire system together and allows for the exchange of programs distributed through National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Loss of public funding could result in higher costs for local stations; not only would it cost more to acquire national programming, but local stations would lose supplemental funding directly from CPB. Fewer stations would be able to afford programming, increasing the average price per show.

H.R. 1076, prohibiting federal funding of National Public Radio and the use of Federal funds to acquire radio content, passed today in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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