1. United States
2. N.M.
3. Letter

I am concerned about our public media and the dangers of not funding this institution. It weakens free speech, it abandons low income families and would be a public disservice. Federal funding supports the vital services of 1,500+ locally operated public radio and TV stations across the country – along with the national systems they rely on to serve their communities. That includes emergency alert and program distribution infrastructure, educational resources for families and educators, and locally valued national programming. Research consistently shows that most Americans support this investment. A recent Pew Research Center study found that Americans were nearly twice as likely to support continuing federal funding for NPR and PBS as oppose it. For about $1.60 per person each year, this funding powers content and outreach that boosts children’s academic outcomes, strengthens local public safety, and keeps communities informed and connected. Defunding or restricting funds for public media wouldn’t just disrupt these services — it could force stations to shut down entirely, especially in rural and underserved areas, leaving millions of Americans without access to these essential resources.