Corporation for Public Broadcasting

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was created on November 7, 1967, when U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. The new organization initially collaborated with the National Educational Television network (NET)—which would be replaced by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Ward Chamberlin Jr. was the first operating officer.{{cite web|title = Statement from Paula Kerger, President & CEO, PBS on Ward Chamberlin Jr.|url = https://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/statement-from-paula-kerger-president-ceo-pbs-on-ward-chamberlin-jr/|publisher = PBS|access-date = February 25, 2017|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170226132354/http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/statement-from-paula-kerger-president-ceo-pbs-on-ward-chamberlin-jr/|archive-date = February 26, 2017}} On March 27, 1968, it was registered as a nonprofit corporation in the District of Columbia.{{cite web |title = PBS Timeline |url = http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/history-timeline |publisher = PBS |access-date = February 29, 2016 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171213203813/https://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/history-timeline |archive-date = December 13, 2017 }} In 1969, the CPB talked to private groups to start PBS, an entity intended by the CPB to circumvent controversies engendered by certain NET public affairs programs that aired in the late 1960s and engendered opposition by politically conservative public figures, potentially threatening the medium's future viability.{{cite web|title = Thematic Window: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting|url = https://www.pbs.org/johngardner/chapters/4d.html|publisher = PBS|access-date = October 16, 2009|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090811071751/http://www.pbs.org/johngardner/chapters/4d.html|archive-date = August 11, 2009}}

On February 26, 1970, the CPB formed National Public Radio (NPR), a network of public-radio stations that began operating the following year. Unlike PBS, NPR produces and distributes programming. On May 31, 2002, the CPB, through special appropriation funding, helped public television stations making the transition to digital broadcasting; this was complete by 2009.

On April 28, 2025, the CPB filed a lawsuit against the second Trump administration after President Donald Trump attempted to fire three of the five members of the CPB's board of directors.{{cite news|last=Shepardson|first=David|date=April 29, 2025|title=Corporation for Public Broadcasting sues to block Trump from firing 3 board members|website=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/corporation-public-broadcasting-sues-block-trump-firing-three-board-members-2025-04-29/|access-date=May 2, 2025}}Case docket for [https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69966304/corporation-for-public-broadcasting-v-trump-in-his-official-capacity-as/ Corporation for Public Broadcasting v. Trump, 1:25-cv-01305, (D.D.C.)] at CourtListener On May 1, Trump issued Executive Order 14290 directing the CPB and all federal agencies to end funding for PBS and NPR, alleging biased news coverage in violation of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 and that public funding for news programming was "not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence" in the current U.S. media market.{{cite news|title=Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR|date=May 1, 2025|publisher=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-npr-pbs-republicans-public-broadcasting-f0e3e1acb96986732a0211833165bf84|access-date=May 2, 2025}}{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Patrick|last2=Grumbach|first2=Gary|date=May 2, 2025|title=Trump signs executive order to stop federal funding for NPR and PBS|work=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-signs-executive-order-stop-federal-funding-npr-pbs-rcna204375|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250502153455/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-signs-executive-order-stop-federal-funding-npr-pbs-rcna204375|url-status=live|archive-date=2 May 2025|access-date=May 2, 2025}} CPB wrote in a statement that "CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government."{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=Corporation for Public Broadcasting Statement Regarding Executive Order on Public Media |url=https://cpb.org/pressroom/Corporation-Public-Broadcasting-Statement-Regarding-Executive-Order-Public-Media |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Corporation for Public Broadcasting |language=en}}

The CPB's annual budget is composed almost entirely of an annual appropriation from Congress plus interest on those funds. Under the establishing law, no more than 5% of the appropriation may be used for administrative expenses. CPB allocates the funds to content development, community services, and other local station and system needs.{{Cite web |title=CPB Financial Information |url=https://cpb.org/aboutcpb/financials/ |access-date=November 27, 2024 |website=cpd.org|date=January 15, 2015 }}

{{As of|2025|alt=For fiscal year 2025}}, its appropriation was US$535 million, including $10 million in interest earned. The distribution of these funds was as follows:{{cite web |last= |date=2025 |title=CPB Operating Budget |url=https://cpb.org/aboutcpb/financials/budget/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=December 28, 2024 |website=www.cpb.org}}

• $267.83M for direct grants to local public television stations;
• $96.78M for television programming grants;
• $83.33M for direct grants to local public radio stations;
• $28.63M for the Radio National Program Production and Acquisition
• $9.58M for the Radio Program Fund
• $32.10M for system support
• $26.75M for administration

Public broadcasting stations are funded by a combination of private donations from listeners and viewers, foundations and corporations. Funding for public television comes in roughly equal parts from government (at all levels) and the private sector.{{cite web|url=http://www.cpb.org/annualreports/2013/|title=CPB 2013 Annual Report|website=www.cpb.org|access-date=May 4, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212170045/http://cpb.org/annualreports/2013/|archive-date=February 12, 2016}}

Stations that receive CPB funds must meet certain requirements,{{cite web|url=http://www.cpb.org/stations/certification/|title=Communications Act Compliance|last=ernestosilva|date=October 14, 2015|website=www.cpb.org|access-date=May 4, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213025639/http://cpb.org/stations/certification/|archive-date=February 13, 2016}} such as the maintenance or provision of open meetings, open financial records, a community advisory board, equal employment opportunity, and lists of donors and political activities.

== Efforts to defund CPB in the US Congress ==

The CPB has had its congressional funding threatened a number of times, mostly by Republicans who allege a left-wing bias in PBS. President Nixon was well known for his dislike of PBS and the CPB and wanted to kill the congressional funding for it.{{cite Q|Q122259942}} In July 2023, the appropriations bill for FY 2024 included zero money for CPB when it passed out of the US House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies{{cite Q|Q122260182}}{{cite Q|Q122260308}} However, the corresponding bill considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee plans to continue funding for the CPB, though at 7 percent less than what President Biden requested.{{cite Q|Q122260508}}

The CPB is governed by a nine-member board of directors selected by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate; they serve six-year terms, and are allowed to continue serving until the end of the calendar year that their term ends or until their successor is seated on the board.{{cite web|url=https://cpb.org/aboutpb/act|title=Public Broadcast Act of 1967 Subpart D — Corporation for Public Broadcasting|work=cpb.org|date=November 7, 1967|access-date=2022-12-21}} Under the terms of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, the president cannot appoint persons of the same political party to more than five of the nine CPB board seats.

The Board of Directors governs the CPB, sets policy, and establishes programming priorities. The Board appoints the president and chief executive officer, who then names the other corporate officers.{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/leadership/board/ |access-date=December 22, 2024 |website=CPB.org |publisher=Corporation for Public Broadcasting}}

The current CPB board {{as of|lc=y|df=US|2025|04|10}}:

In 2004 and 2005, people from PBS and NPR complained that the CPB was starting to push a conservative agenda.[http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_050605_cpb.html NPR's On the Media interview with Tomlinson, May 6, 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522130613/http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_050605_cpb.html |date=May 22, 2008 }}[http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_071505_elephant.html NPR's On the Media follow-up, July 15, 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001133224/http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_071505_elephant.html |date=October 1, 2006 }} Board members replied that they were merely seeking balance.

Kenneth Tomlinson, chair of the CPB board from September 2003 until September 2005, angered PBS and NPR supporters by unilaterally commissioning a conservative colleague to conduct a study of alleged bias in the PBS show NOW with Bill Moyers, and by appointing two conservatives as CPB Ombudsmen.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4724317|title=CPB Memos Indicate Level of Monitoring|date=June 30, 2005|work=NPR.org|access-date=June 25, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624181341/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4724317|archive-date=June 24, 2015}} On November 3, 2005, Tomlinson resigned from the board, prompted by a report of his tenure by the CPB Inspector General, Kenneth Konz, requested by Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The report was made public on November 15. It states:

We found evidence that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) former Chairman violated statutory provisions and the Director's Code of Ethics by dealing directly with one of the creators of a new public affairs program during negotiations with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the CPB over creating the show. Our review also found evidence that suggests "political tests" {{sic|were a major criteria}} used by the former Chairman in recruiting a President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for CPB, which violated statutory prohibitions against such practices.[http://www.cpb.org/oig/reports/602_cpb_ig_reportofreview.pdf Corporation For Public Broadcasting, Office of Inspector General: Review of Alleged Actions Violating The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, as Amended, Report No. EPB503-602, November 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210846/http://www.cpb.org/oig/reports/602_cpb_ig_reportofreview.pdf |date=2015-09-23 }}, page i

The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 requires the CPB to operate with a "strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature". It also requires it to regularly review national programming for objectivity and balance, and to report on "its efforts to address concerns about objectivity and balance".

• American Public Television
• Public Radio Exchange
• American Public Media

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite report|last=Wolf|first=Frederick D.|year=1984|title=Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Oversight of National Public Radio|publisher=General Accounting Office|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/afmd-84-44.pdf|access-date=December 15, 2024}}
• {{cite report|last=Wolf|first=Frederick D.|year=1984|title=Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Oversight of Public Television|publisher=General Accounting Office|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/afmd-85-31.pdf|access-date=December 15, 2024}}
• {{cite report|last=Morra|first=Linda G.|year=1990|title=Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Congressional Guidance Needed on Administrative Expenses|publisher=General Accounting Office|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/hrd-90-5.pdf|access-date=December 15, 2024}}
• {{cite report|last1=Goldstein|first1=Mark L.|last2=Finedore|first2=John|year=2004|title=TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Issues Related to Federal Funding for Public Television by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting|publisher=General Accounting Office|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-04-284.pdf|access-date=December 15, 2024}}
• {{cite report|last1=Goldstein|first1=Mark L.|year=2007|title=TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Issues Related to the Structure and Funding of Public Television|publisher=Government Accountability Office|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-07-150.pdf|access-date=December 15, 2024}}
• {{cite report|title=The Information Needs of Communities: The Changing Media Landscape In a Broadband Age|year=2011|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|url=https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/the-information-needs-of-communities-report-july-2011.pdf|access-date=May 2, 2025}}
• {{cite report|title=Alternative Sources of Funding for Public Broadcasting Stations|year=2012|publisher=Corporation for Public Broadcasting|url=https://cpb.org/sites/default/files/aboutcpb/Alternative_Sources_of_Funding_for_Public_Broadcasting_Stations.pdf|access-date=December 15, 2024}}
• {{cite report|last1=McLoughlin|first1=Glenn J.|last2=Gomez|first2=Lena A.|date=July 3, 2017|title=The Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Federal Funding and Issues|publisher=Congressional Research Service|url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RS/RS22168|access-date=December 15, 2024}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|132607374}}
• [https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/1609 Corporation for Public Broadcasting records] at the University of Maryland Libraries

{{Public broadcasting in the United States}}

{{PBSTV}}

{{NPR}}

{{European Broadcasting Union Members}}

{{Lyndon B. Johnson}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:1967 establishments in Washington, D.C.

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