Posted on 02/03/2003 3:53:42 PM PST by Drango
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2003
Statement of Public Broadcasters
In Response to the President's 2004 Budget Plan
We in public broadcasting understand that the combination of a war on terrorism and a weakened economy will have a serious impact on federal appropriations, including our own.
Nonetheless, the President's budget would, if enacted, seriously compromise our ability to deliver the services we are required by law to provide to the American people.
Public broadcasting is at a critical technological crossroads. The May 2003 federal deadline for public television to convert to digital transmission is rapidly approaching. That conversion also requires that television's satellite distribution system be replaced. Public radio stations must now begin the final phase of their transition to digital due to strong marketplace and technical pressures. This combination of urgent deadlines and competitive pressures demands substantial investment now.
Although the President's budget recognizes these pressing needs, it provides no funding for these purposes. It recommends no further special appropriations to fund the transition to digital technology, and it "suspends" funding for the Department of Commerce's Public Television Facilities Program, which has funded public broadcasting infrastructure since 1962. Instead, the budget would authorize CPB to spend up to $100 million of its general appropriation for these priorities. Not only would this fall far short of the need, it would reduce federal support by $100 million.
The vast majority of CPB funds go directly to more than 1,000 local public radio and television stations. These cuts would hit them at an already difficult time, when they are eliminating programming and cutting other services due to the weakened economy and deep cuts in state funding. Beyond that, they are facing a possible rescission in FY 2003 funds, that is, funds that have already been committed or provided to stations this year.
For 35 years, public broadcasters have met the federal mandate of providing universal service, meaning that every community in America has access to a wealth of independent, non-commercial programming and educational resources, as well as local services that are highly valued by their citizens. This service is deeply threatened by this budget proposal, as is CPB's investment in new national programming for TV and radio.
In addition, this budget proposal makes no provision for advance funding, ending a 29 year tradition that has allowed public broadcasters leverage for raising non-federal funding; adequate lead time to plan, design, create and support the programs and services we are mandated to provide; and a buffer from the political process. We hope that Congress will continue to recognize public broadcasting's unique needs by providing an advance appropriation.
The bottom line is that public broadcasters are able to set priorities and live within strict budget parameters, but without additional funding, we cannot build an entirely new, federally mandated technological infrastructure while also delivering the public services required of us by the Public Broadcasting Act.
We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to ensure that viewers and listeners continue to receive the public broadcasting services on which they depend.
###
Robert T. Coonrod, President and CEO, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Pat Mitchell, President and CEO, Public Broadcasting Service
Kevin Klose, President and CEO, National Public Radio
John Lawson, President and CEO, Association of Public Television Stations
Change the law. Which by the way will cause the law to more fully comply with the Constitution.
BS! No matter how much the budget is cut, private hero-philanthropy and liberal corporate hubris will always meet the funding gap. Bill Gates is a wigged-out social liberal, and he could fund the whole damn thing--without fund drives--into perpetuity.
They're whining that the 2004 Budget will keep them from paying for something that has to be completed by May 2003? What's wrong with this picture?
Public Television faces near-term cuts in already-appropriated federal funding as congressional budgeteers struggle to finalize the fiscal 2003 budget a full four months into the new fiscal year. Congress is considering rescinding between $10 and $15 million in funding for public broadcasting. These cuts would hit local PTV stations at a time when they are struggling to meet the May 1, 2003 federal deadline to begin transmitting a digital signal.
When Is a Cut Not Just a Cut? When It Is a Rescission…
A federal spending rescission is not a household word for most Americans, but for Public Television Stations and their supporters, it holds real - and painful - meaning. In general, a cut in federal spending is applied prospectively - to funds that may have been budgeted but are not yet spent. A rescission, on the other hand, applies to funds that have already been appropriated by Congress, and often have already been disbursed.
Since the mid-1970s, public broadcasting has received its federal funding through two-year advance appropriations. In practice, that means that the funds for FY 2003 (the current fiscal year) were appropriated in the FY 2001 budget. This enables public broadcasting to plan ahead, make programming decisions based on those numbers, and leverage that funding to generate state and local funding. Importantly, it also serves to shield public broadcasting's programming decisions from potential political interference.
Because funds are set aside two years in advance, they are not subject to the complications that arise when Congress does not complete its budget by the beginning of the fiscal year. Whereas most federal programs in FY 2003 have been in a sort of limbo since October 1, 2002, the beginning of the fiscal year, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which administers our federal funding, received its FY 2003 allotment in October. CPB has, in turn, disbursed much of that funding to local television and radio stations in the form of Community Service Grants.
A rescission of these already-appropriated - and partially disbursed - funds means that local stations will receive less funding than they had counted on, with very little notice to plan for the cuts.
To be sure, nearly all other non-defense federal programs will sustain funding cuts in FY 2003, because they are being applied across-the-board. However, a rescission in funding hits harder than a prospective budget cut, and undermines the very goal for which advance appropriations are meant to achieve.
It's about time.
With the advent of so many channels, I just can't see any need for this.
Every thing on TV is either a rerun or a fund raising drive. I do watch Antique Roadshow, but they only make a few new ones each year and that could well be taken over by A&E, TLC, H&G, or some other channel and probably done better.
Fair and balanced they are not...
2003 expenses versus 2004 budget?
and
PBS is absolutely free of competition - that's how they get away with their complete bias.
It gets even better -
...the President's budget...provides no funding for these purposes. It recommends no further special appropriations...it "suspends" funding for the Department of Commerce's...Program, which has funded public broadcasting infrastructure since 1962. Instead, the budget would authorize CPB to spend up to $100 million of its general appropriation for these priorities..it would reduce federal support by $100 million.
Note here that the budget allows them to spend money they have in the bank - they are all teary eyed because they won't get any more tax bucks to rathole!
And finally,
These cuts would hit them at an already difficult time...due to the weakened economy and deep cuts in state funding." and "For 35 years, public broadcasters have met the federal mandate of providing universal service, meaning that every community in America has access to a wealth of independent, non-commercial programming and educational resources...This service is deeply threatened by this budget proposal..."
Golly, a weakened economy and cuts in state spending aren't enough to clue these weasels in on a general lack of interest and funds for ruffles on the societal cuffs? They are, as usual, fearful that loss of my tax dollars will limit their "Independent" brand of socialism.
All leading up to the most satisfying "Tsk Tsk" I ever remember uttering.
Oh, Oh, I forgot this part:
"...this budget proposal makes no provision for advance funding, ending a 29 year tradition that has allowed public broadcasters..."
Check out US Code 10-2563, advance funding is a requirement for GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. It's a nicety for anyone else.
Learn to live on the rough side of town PBS!
(I do like the "crossroads" image - with luck they'll get broadsided by a passing semi.)
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