It’s something many might not think about as they channel-surf on radio or TV, looking for news or the latest song to jam to.
But as talks about cutting funding to NPR and PBS swirl in the midst of budget discussions at the federal level, a question has arisen on the Space Coast: What does this mean for Brevard?
While the focus nationally has largely been on funding contributions to NPR and PBS, Stephen Yasko, general manager of Florida Tech’s radio station, WFIT, said he doesn’t think people know how much money actually goes to local broadcasting — like the university’s radio station and Eastern Florida State College’s TV broadcast station, WESF-TV.
“I don’t think people realize that funding goes to the local public radio and public television stations that do so much more than air programming, national programming,” he said.
“I want to make sure that we can continue doing what we do to serve our mission and to serve the community.”
Here’s more on how federal funding cuts could impact public broadcasting locally, and what that could mean for Brevard’s radio and TV programming.
What federal funding is being cut?
Nothing has been cut yet. But on June 3, the Office of Management and Budget announced they were sending the first recessions package to Capitol Hill containing “billions in wasteful foreign aid and federal funding for NPR and PBS,” according to a post made on X by the department.
The department went on to say that $1.1 billion was being contributed to the “left-wing Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which uses your taxpayer dollars to fund PBS and NPR.”
Congress still needs to vote on whether or not to make the cuts proposed by the Office of Management and Budget.
Local impact: How does Brevard use CPB funding?
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s goal is to “steward the federal appropriation and to ensure universal access to content and services that educate, inform, foster curiosity and promote civil discourse essential to American society,” according to their website.
In Brevard, that means funding goes to EFSC’s TV broadcast station, WESF-TV, and to Florida Tech’s radio, WFIT.
Much remains unknown regarding how they may be impacted by federal funding cuts.
“Approximately 1/3 of our budget comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in combination with a Florida Community Service Grant from the Department of Education,” said Suzanne Rains, a spokesperson for EFSC. “We are unsure what the impact may be when all is said and done.”
At WFIT, Yasko said the funding through CPB makes up about 28% of their total budget. The impacts of federal funding cuts could be “profound,” he said.
“Part of the money that we get from CPB helps to pay our membership in the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, which provides up-to-the-minute and … realistic storm information, so that’s we don’t want to see jeopardized,” he said.
Yasko is also concerned about the potential impact funding cuts could have on the radio’s ability to help support nonprofits who don’t necessarily have the budget to pay for advertising and up-and-coming musicians supported through programming and their yearly Sonic Waves Music Festival in Eau Gallie.
“We have an entire show called Keller Radio devoted to bringing (new musicians) on to the radio and nurturing their careers,” Yasko said. “We kind of critique them a little bit … because you never know when one’s going to blow up. You never know when one artist in your backyard is going to become famous.”
Can Brevard residents help?
Because the funding cuts aren’t a done deal, Yasko encourages Brevard residents to call their representatives and speak to them about the impacts of local broadcasting.
“Everyone who cares about public broadcasting can call their representatives and tell them how they feel about public radio and public television,” he said.
Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at fwalker@floridatoday.com. X: @_finchwalker. Instagram: @finchwalker_.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Officials: Federal funding cuts could impact public radio, TV broadcasting in Brevard
Reporting by Finch Walker, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
