1. United States
2. Alaska
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to oppose the proposed $1.1 billion cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) that recently passed the House in H.R. 4. As you know, Alaska’s public broadcasting system is not a luxury—it is an essential lifeline for news, emergency information, and community connection, especially in our rural and remote regions. Unlike many states, Alaska has vast areas with limited broadband access and few, if any, other local news sources. Public radio and television stations provide critical coverage of state and local issues, weather alerts, emergency bulletins, and culturally relevant programming for Alaska Native communities. Cutting federal support to CPB will hit local NPR and PBS affiliates the hardest—these funds are vital for maintaining operations in small, rural stations that cannot replace this revenue elsewhere. While the proposed cuts represent a tiny fraction of the federal budget—less than 1/100th of a percent—their impact would be devastating here at home. Stations in Alaska rely heavily on CPB support to maintain newsrooms and transmitters that keep our communities informed, connected, and safe. These cuts are being advanced under the misleading notion that public broadcasting is “woke propaganda,” but in Alaska, it is simply a necessary service. It binds communities together, preserves our diverse voices, and ensures that everyone—from urban Anchorage to the most remote village—can participate in our shared civic life. I hope you will reject these proposed cuts and instead stand up for Alaska’s public broadcasters and the people who depend on them. Please vote no on any legislation that would reduce or eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Thank you for your service to our state and for considering this critical issue.