Commercial networks cannot provide the type of unbiased news reporting viewers enjoy on the the PBS Newshour and BBC World News. I contribute annually to my public station and will continue to do so. I strongly urge the administration to support public broadcasting for the quality of its educational, global and cultural content.

The best reason among many to maintain public funding for public broadcasting is to make sure the public has unbiased and carefully researched reporting of news and events. By maintaining public funding, public broadcasting is accountable to the public.

I believe the government should continue (and if possible, increase) funding public broadcasting. Public media that is free from private corporate ownership is essential to our free press and the concept of a transparent government. The quality of our public media both at the state and national level is unsurpassed, in large part, because of the independence public media enjoys from private ownership. You take that away and you lose out on a critical voice necessary for our citizenry to discern the real world and all its complications for themselves. You take away a platform for art that might not otherwise be available on a large scale. And you reduce the level of discourse in this country to rubble.

I rely on public media to be a clear voice in a sea of spin and bias. My children learn, commercial-free, from its programming that exists to teach skills and decency. Cutting public media funding is NOT a solution to the country’s other fiscal pressures.

National Public Radio and PBS are important sources of credible and impartial news reporting, particular at a time when other news organizations, such as newspapers, are in decline. The amount of money Congress appropriates for public media is relatively small in the overall federal budget, yet the services they provide are essential to an informed citizenry and a well-functioning democracy.

Like me, I’m sure many government officials turn to public radio and television for accurate and unbiased news and thoughtful entertainment. As an educator, I use the resources provided by these media for my classes both for new and for knowledge. The quality of their programming is exceptional and represents the best in American broadcasting. If funding were cut, this would put out a very disturbing image of the state of news and free speech in our country.

Public media – both PBS and NPR – are the best source of information out there – all kinds of information (news, political analysis, nature, science, technology, history, arts) – because all of the programming is based on data and sound analysis. The best part is, there is no shouting and talking-over-one-another involved. I request the Trump administration to not cut funds for the CPB – which is a paltry part of the federal budget. Moreover, there are many places around USA which depend exclusively on NPR’s reach for information and it would be a travesty to get those places devoid of a consistent and reliable source of information. Both PBS and NPR are national treasures that should be nurtured and promoted – rather than squeezed and killed.

To Whom It May Concern:
I would like to request actions be taken to protect our public media stations. Public media has been a matriarch for American children and adults of all ages since I remember watching programs such as Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and Mr. Rogers Neighborhood to name a few. These programs were essential to my learning during the formative years prior to going to pre-school, during and afterwards. I am very grateful for it’s programming as it adds value to the American life through many ways, either culturally, financially, and overall enhancement of my life. The program inspires me to want to travel as I watch travel programming, and it also makes me proud to be an American, because of access of wonderful programs that continues to teach and make me a much better citizen. I also have two grandkids now, that I always allow and encourage their parents to air the local public media stations as the programs are safe and wholesome for all audiences. I understand every American may not be able to afford to travel or go to concerts depending on income as well as geographical locations. But, the public media station opens up an entire world that the average American will never see, but can e enriched by these specially selected programs, and it can enhance their lives and bring a higher standard of living and hope. I support the cause so dearly, and do my part to keep operations going by making monthly contributions, as I know all funding does not come from our government. So, please protect funding for this cause, as life for some may become a bit grim and living in a highly illiterate country is nothing but recipes for disaster. Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to express my love for public media.

I listen to NPR in my studio all day long, and PBS Newshour in the evening; both keep me up to date on breaking news and issues of concern. I count on the absolute objectivity of the NPR and PBS journalists, who frequently play devil’s advocate with their guests, and the depth of the stories.

In the evening I watch PBS Newshour and depend on it in the same fashion.

I also enjoy the eclectic music and discussion on NPR, as well as the high-quality programming (Masterpiece Theatre, Nature, Nova, and others too numerous to list) on PBS.

I love NPR. I listen daily and the station is always intelligent and responsible. I see this as an attack on my first amendment rights and an attempt to stifle information.

I resolve to protect public media because it adds enormous value to my life. The programs that I watch and listen to on my public radio and television stations provide fair, unbiased facts that help me and my family be more informed, engaged, and educated members of society.