For years, Americans have ranked local public media stations among the most trusted media sources and among the most effective federal investments.

For about $1.60 per person each year, federal funding provided through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) supported more than 1,500 locally operated public radio and television stations. That investment strengthened communities across the country by ensuring universal access to local journalism and information, educational resources, and emergency communications, including in rural, Tribal, and underserved areas where no other media reaches.

That funding has now been eliminated.

The loss of CPB funding puts local public media stations at risk of going off the air and threatens core services communities depend on every day, including:

• Reliable emergency alerts and warnings, especially in areas where broadcast signals are the only communications infrastructure available
• Educational services for children and families, including school readiness resources for millions of children who lack access to preschool
• Local journalism and storytelling that reflects community needs and preserves local history and culture
• Parent-approved, evidence-based educational resources and community outreach that support learning at home and in classrooms
• Workforce training and skills resources for underemployed and unemployed adults
• Public media service in large parts of the country, particularly rural and Tribal communities where stations are often the sole source of local media

As local newspapers disappear and more information moves behind paywalls, local public media stations remain among the last locally operated, universally accessible media institutions in the United States. Research consistently shows that strong public media systems are associated with higher civic engagement and better-informed democracies.

Congress has the power to restore federal funding and prevent permanent damage to local public media stations.

We urge lawmakers to restore federal funding for local public media stations and protect access to life-saving information, proven educational resources,  local news and information, and community-focused programs.