The CPB And You
The CPB and the importance of federal support
Public broadcasting began in 1967 with the creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Since that time, public media has flourished, providing high-quality news, public affairs, music and cultural programming nationwide. CPB continues to be the glue that holds public media together. Preserving CPB is essential to ensuring that public media exists for generations to come
What is CPB?
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a nonprofit created to support public media across the country. It ensures that high-quality, non-commercial news, music, and cultural programming are accessible to everyone.
CPB is the largest single source of funding for public radio and television, distributing over 70% of its funds directly to more than 1,500 locally owned stations—including KSFR.
Unlike NPR or PBS, CPB does not create programming or own stations—it simply helps public media thrive. CPB funding helps KSFR deliver trusted journalism, diverse music, and emergency alerts to New Mexico.
Why does CPB matter to KSFR and other public media?
Even though listener support makes up the largest and most reliable source of KSFR’s funding, federal funding — which amounts to about $1.60 per person annually — makes public media as you currently know it possible.
CPB’s investment directly supports local stations across the country and enables them to provide essential programs and services. If federal funding is eliminated, public media stations could be forced to cut some or all of the following:
- local newsrooms and personnel providing information essential to the well-being of local communities.
- important public safety communications during natural disasters
- professional development and resources
- music and cultural programming
Some stations, particularly those in rural areas securing a larger percentage of their revenue from the CPB, could even be forced off the air. In many rural communities, public media stations are the only local sources of news.
What would happen if KSFR lost CPB funding?
If CPB funding is eliminated, it will have a devastating effect on all CPB-qualified stations, including KSFR.
However, CPB funding supports critical shared resources that individual stations rely on, such as:
- National interconnection systems (satellite and digital distribution)
- Emergency alert systems
- Affordable music and programming licenses
- Professional training and development for journalists and producers
The loss of CPB funding would disrupt these essential services, impacting KSFR and the entire public media system. Rural communities, in particular, would experience significant service reductions as smaller stations struggle to remain operational.
While KSFR would work diligently to sustain its current level of service, the loss of CPB funding would inevitably lead to program cuts, reduced local news coverage, and a diminished ability to provide high-quality music programming. Some of the shows you love would likely disappear, and our ability to produce well-researched, community-driven journalism would be greatly diminished.
What can I do to support public media?
The best way to support public media is by donating. A strong, diverse base of grassroots advocates is essential to ensuring the retention of federal funding. You can ask your Congressional representative to endorse annual federal funding for public media. Learn more at Protect My Public Media, a collaboration of local public radio and television stations, national distributors, producers, viewers, listeners and others who support a strong public media in the U.S.