Q: What is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)?

A: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a nonprofit organization created by Congress in 1967 to support and strengthen public media in the United States. It has served as the national steward for ensuring that public radio and television stations have access to essential resources and services.

Q: Is the CPB still funding CET and Think^TV?

A: No. Federal funding for public media was rescinded for 2026 and 2027 and then not included in the next budget. This is a loss of $2.6 million in federal funding for CET and Think^TV.

Q: Why is CPB closing?

A: CPB leadership has announced that the agency will close operations. The main function of the CPB was to distribute, track and report national federal funding for public media. Without federal money, the CPB does not have funding to distribute.

Q: What does CPB’s closure mean for local public media stations?

A: CPB has long served as the coordinating body for system-wide support and distributor of federal funds. The loss of federal funding will have a significant impact on local stations, but the closure of the agency itself does not mean stations are going off the air. It will, however, make combined efforts like music licensing and the public media interconnection system more complicated.

Q: Does this affect national public media programs?

A: Potentially. CPB often supported the development and distribution of national programs, especially those aimed at educational access, rural reach or diverse audiences. Without CPB’s coordinating role and accompanying funding, some programs may need to find new models of support or collaboration.

Q: What can the public do to help?

A: Local support is more important than ever. You can:

• Support your local station by donating or becoming a member.
• Stay informed about how changes in the public media system affect your community.
• Share your story — let others know why public media matters to you.