House
votes to spare the ax for public broadcasting, including
Utah Public Radio
Kyle, Haley and Jessica Fleming watch
'Arthur' on PBS before heading to school. / Photo
by Mary Fleming
By Shauna Leavitt
June 24, 2005 | The Corporation of Public Broadcasting
(CPB) and its supporters breathed a sigh of relief Thursday
when the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly
against a proposal to cut 26 percent of CPB's 2006 funding.
A large portion of CPB's funding is distributed to public
programs and stations. When the word spread of the proposed
cut, supporters came forward to voice their disapproval.
"I have heard from people who want to see programs
continue and are disturbed by the proposed limitation
of funds," said Lee Austin of Utah Public Radio
(UPR). CPB supporters from all over the nation contacted
their senators and local public broadcasting stations
to express their disapproval and ask how they could
help.
The cut would have taken 15 percent of Utah Public Radio's
funding. The majority of that funding is used to purchase
national and international programs such as All
Things Considered, As It Happens (Canadian program)
and A Prairie Home Companion.
The CPB was set up in 1967 to provide diverse voices
to the nation that would not be controlled by political
leaders. Throughout the past two decades that protection
against political influence has weakened -- as shown
by the proposed bill.
"I don't think this [proposal was] based on the
value of [public broadcasting] service nationwide or
on the things it does or doesn't do. It [was] based
on some political rivalries and political philosophies
that are on a very high level. It trickles down and
affects an awful lot of people," said Richard Meng,
executive director of UPR.
"It's politics at its worst," said Meng.
The existence of the public broadcasting provides a
diversity of voices in communities all over the United
States. If UPR stopped broadcasting in Logan, 50 percent
of the diversity of ownership would be gone. The remaining
radio stations would be owned by one person.
"The only agenda Utah Public Radio has is to provide
all viewpoints for the issues. They have fair and balanced
reporting with trusted sources," said John Bissonette
of North Logan.
Added Chris Luecke of Providence, "The time allotted
for news [on UPR] allows for more in depth information
to be dispersed to the people."
Children's programming is the part of public broadcasting
that was slotted for the most extensive cuts. The influential
Ready to Learn program would have been completely
dissolved. This would mean no additional funding to
produce shows such as Arthur and Sesame
Street.
The funding bill now heads to the Senate.
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