The Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Federal Funding Facts and Status

Publication Date: June 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Media, telecommunications, and information

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Abstract:

Congressional policymakers are closely examining federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Overall, 15.6% of all public television and radio broadcasting funding comes from the federal appropriations that CPB distributes. The CPB's appropriation is allocated through a distribution formula established in its authorizing legislation. It has historically received two-year advanced appropriations. On June 9, 2005, the subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies of the House Appropriations Committee considered the Labor, Health and Human Service and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2006 (H.R. 3010). The subcommittee voted to reduce CPB's FY2006 appropriations (which had been passed as part of the FY2004 appropriations) to $300 million; to eliminate both FY2006 appropriations for digital conversion and for capital costs of replacing current interconnection systems; and to eliminate advanced federal appropriations for CPB in FY2008. On June 16, 2005, the full House Appropriations Committee voted to restore $400 million in federal funding for CPB in FY2008; it also approved funding of $300 million for FY2006 (H.Rept. 109-143). On June 23, the full House considered the appropriations bill, and approved an amendment to provide $400 million for the FY2006 CPB budget. On June 24, the House passed H.R. 3010, 250-151, and referred the bill to the Senate. On July 11, the subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Service, Education and Related Agencies on the Senate Appropriations Committee held hearings on the CPB FY2006 appropriations. On July 14, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out the FY2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill for FY2006 . The committee approved $400 million for CPB in FY2008; it also approved funding in FY2006 for digital broadcasting, upgrade of the current interconnection system, as well as encouraging additional activities of CPB, all of which would come out of the FY2006 CPB budget. The Senate will next vote on the bill. This report will be updated as events warrant.