1. United States
2. Okla.
3. Letter

As an Oklahoma taxpayer and citizen, I urge our elected leaders to preserve funding for the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA). For more than seventy years, OETA has provided educational programming, public affairs coverage, emergency information, cultural programming, and PBS content to Oklahomans in every corner of our state. It was created by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1953 and remains Oklahoma's only statewide public television network. While reasonable people may disagree about individual programs, eliminating state support for OETA would harm far more than television programming. OETA serves rural communities, classrooms, families with young children, lifelong learners, and citizens who rely on free access to educational and public-interest content. It also plays a role in distributing emergency information across the state. OETA is not simply another media outlet. It is a public institution that belongs to all Oklahomans. It preserves our history, highlights our culture, and provides educational resources regardless of a family's income. Generations of Oklahoma children have learned through PBS educational programming, and countless adults have benefited from documentaries, local productions, and public affairs coverage. Governor Stitt has argued that taxpayer-funded broadcasting is no longer necessary and has vetoed legislation supporting OETA. However, the question is not whether commercial media exists. The question is whether Oklahoma values a trusted, statewide educational resource that serves the public rather than advertisers. I encourage lawmakers to continue funding OETA and to protect this uniquely Oklahoma institution for future generations. Once a statewide educational network is dismantled, rebuilding it would be far more costly than maintaining it today. OETA has served Oklahoma since 1956. We should ensure it continues serving Oklahoma for decades to come.