As multiple efforts to rescind funding for public media are underway (reported by NPR, The Hill, New York Times, and New York Post, among others), we want to provide clarity about what that means for your public media stations.

The elimination of this $1B allocation of funding will cause an existential crisis for independent, public media (radio and television) stations that receive that funding, like Buffalo Toronto Public Media.

Buffalo Toronto Public Media, like all public media, is locally managed and makes programming and service decisions to address our unique community’s needs. That work is funded, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

We’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions to help understand the situation. If you have other questions, please submit your inquiry at https://help.btpm.org or call 800-678-1873.

What is happening with federal funding for public media?

Congress passed a Continuing Resolution for the federal budget on March 14, 2025, securing funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) through fiscal year 2027. However, on April 14, 2025, the White House announced plans to submit a formal rescission proposal to eliminate the appropriated funding, triggering a 45-day review period in Congress. If successful, this unprecedented move would completely eliminate federal support for public media that is already allotted by Congress. Public media funding makes up a small fraction of the federal budget, just $1.60 per American per year, but its impact is enormous, particularly for rural, underserved, and emergency-prone communities.

What is the CPB’s role in public broadcasting?

The CPB is an independent, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967. It is not a broadcaster — it distributes federal dollars to local public radio and television stations, helping to fund programming, technology, and services that are commercial-free and free of charge. The CPB serves as a firewall between partisan politics and public broadcasting to preserve the independence of public media.

Does CPB fund Buffalo Toronto Public Media directly?

Yes. Like all public media stations, Buffalo Toronto Public Media (BTPM) receives funding from the CPB. It averages 14-15% of our total revenue each year. This funding helps support local programming and services, including news coverage, cultural programming, emergency alerts, and educational initiatives.

How important is CPB funding to Buffalo Toronto Public Media?

CPB funding is a crucial part of BTPM's financial structure. While the 14-15% of our budget may seem modest to some, it is significant to our budget and its impact is large. The loss of this funding would be devastating for BTPM and for stations serving rural and less populous areas. CPB support also helps fund shared infrastructure resources like satellite interconnection, emergency alert systems, music licensing, and technological development that individual stations cannot easily fund on their own.

How is CPB funding determined?

Funding for the CPB is established through the federal budget process two years in advance. The funds are allocated to local stations based on a formula that considers factors like population and the ability to raise local support. This method is designed to insulate public media from political pressure and to ensure funding stability.

What would happen if Buffalo Toronto Public Media lost CPB funding?
Loss of CPB funding could result in:

• Reduced capacity for local journalism and community news coverage and other local content that preserves our shared history and promotes our rich culture 
• Loss or reduction of nationally recognized programming from NPR and PBS. Increased costs for maintaining broadcast and digital infrastructure 
• Potential cuts to local educational services and programming 

Why does public media matter when so much content is available online?

Public media offers trusted, fact-checked journalism and cultural content free of commercial influence. It remains one of the few universally accessible services reaching 99% of Americans, including those in rural and underserved areas. In times of emergency, public media provides critical information to communities through reliable, nonpartisan coverage. Public media stations exist to serve the public, not make a profit. Public media is free for everyone and is not paywalled in any way.

In addition, local public media stations including BTPM partner with local first responders to offer datacasting services that use the broadcast spectrum to help first responders send critical information and videos to each other during times of crisis.

Public media partners with FEMA to participate in the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system that enables cell subscribers to receive geo-targeted text messages in the event of an emergency -- reaching them wherever they are in times of crisis.

What can I do to help protect Buffalo Toronto Public Media?

1. Sign up for Protect My Public Media: Visit protectmypublicmedia.org and sign up to stay informed and ready to take action.  
2. Contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators: Let them know that public media matters to you and your community. Tell them you oppose efforts to eliminate CPB funding. (You can use protectmypublicmedia.org to send emails to your representatives or visit https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member) 
3. Tell a friend: Tell people on social media, by email, or in real life about the impact of public media in your life. Did Daniel Tiger help your children process their emotions? Does Masterpiece light up your Sunday nights? Does PBS News Hour bring you the news without the hype and with the facts and context you need? Ask your friends and family members if they have taken the time to let their federal representatives know it’s important to them. 
4. Make a financial contribution to Buffalo Toronto Public Media: Your donations are more important than ever. While advocacy is a vital step, if you are able, please consider giving to BTPM to help us continue serving our community no matter what happens with federal funding: https://www.btpm.org/donate.

Public media has always been supported by the communities it serves — and right now, that support matters more than ever