1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Public broadcasting plays a vital role in providing educational, cultural, and informative programming to millions of Americans across the country. The proposed budget cuts that eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) would jeopardize the future of beloved shows like Sesame Street, which have helped generations learn to read, as well as trusted news sources like PBS NewsHour. CPB funding also supports the largest non-profit GED program in the nation and enables local stations to deliver critical emergency alerts during crises. It is concerning that these drastic cuts could force many public television and radio stations, especially in rural areas that rely heavily on federal funding, to reduce or eliminate essential programming. This would deprive communities of access to invaluable educational resources, unbiased journalism, and local civic engagement opportunities. Public broadcasting has proven its immense value time and again. The long-standing practice of two-year advance appropriations for CPB allows stations to plan effectively and maximize their impact. Restoring full funding of $575 million for CPB, as proposed, would safeguard these vital public services and ensure public media can continue enriching communities nationwide. Preserving this investment in public broadcasting is crucial for upholding access to quality educational content, trusted news sources, and local civic programming for all Americans.