How Federal Funding for WPSU Works—and Why It’s Essential

WPSU staff and volunteers

Federal funding for WPSU helps ensure that people in central and northern Pennsylvania—whether in rural valleys, small towns, or growing cities—have equal access to free, trusted, high-quality public media.

However, as NPR, the New York Times and other news outlets have reported, the Trump administration has indicated it wants to rescind $1.1 billion in federal support to public media. This includes funding for the next two years, already approved by Congress. Visit Protect My Public Media to learn more about how you can support WPSU and local stations across the country.

What is a recission of funding?

A rescission is when the White House asks Congress to cancel or take back funding that has already been approved and appropriated by Congress in a previous budget. It’s essentially a formal request to undo previously allocated funding — like asking to void a check that’s already been written but not yet cashed.

When was this funding approved?

Congress approves the budget for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) two years in advance — a practice in place since the Public Broadcasting Financing Act of 1975. This advance appropriation means that Congress set CPB’s 2025 funding level during the FY 2023 budget process, the 2026 funding during the FY 2024 cycle, and the 2027 funding during the FY 2025 cycle.

How much does federal funding for public broadcasting cost?

The federal investment in public broadcasting amounts to just $1.60 per American each year — a tiny 0.01% of the federal budget.

How much does federal funding contribute to WPSU budgets?

About 20% of WPSU’s radio and television operating budget comes from federal funding.

How does WPSU use federal funding?

Federal funding helps provide critical infrastructure that keeps WPSU on the air. This includes:

  • Antennas, transmitters, and radio towers for public radio and TV signals.
  • Satellite interconnection systems that allow stations to receive and distribute programming.
  • Translators and repeater stations to extend signal coverage into mountainous or rural areas.
  • Emergency alert system (EAS) equipment to broadcast life-saving alerts during severe weather and crises.
  • Equipment and technology to support online streaming, mobile apps, and podcast production
  • Equipment for field reporting, editing, and studio production.
  • Engineering and technical services to keep stations operational.

In addition to equipment and infrastructure, federal funding also helps WPSU deliver meaningful programs and community services, including:

  • Television programs like All Creatures Great and Small, This Old House, NOVA, Frontline, Antiques Roadshow, Call the Midwife, and many others.
  • Radio programs like Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Marketplace, Fresh Air, 1A, Science Friday, Weekend Edition, Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, Radiolab, This American Life, The World, and more.
  • Music licensing fees that allow stations to legally broadcast music.
  • Funding for community events, educational outreach programs and learning resources for children, families, and schools.

What is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)?

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is an independent nonprofit that distributes federal dollars to local stations. CPB was created by Congress in 1967 to serve as the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. They distribute the federal funds to nearly 1,500 locally managed public radio and television stations across the United States.

How would cutting funding to CPB impact WPSU?

The vast majority of funds provided to CPB are distributed directly to local stations. Cutting funding to CPB means cutting funding to local public media stations. It doesn’t just affect one national organization; it weakens the entire network of community-focused stations people rely on every day.

What does “Public Media” actually mean?

Public media refers to broadcasting and digital services that are created to serve the public interest. Unlike commercial media, which is driven by advertising dollars and shareholder interests, public media exists to inform, educate, and inspire audiences, regardless of their ability to pay for content.This includes:

  • Public television stations like all four WPSU channels: WPSU HD, WPSU World, WPSU Create, and WPSU PBS Kids
  • Public radio stations like WPSU-FM — heard at 91.5 FM in State College, 90.1 FM in Kane, 102.5 in Huntingdon, 92.1 in DuBois, 100.9 in Bradford, 104.7 in Clearfield and 106.7 in Altoona
  • The creation of original news, cultural programming, and educational resources such as Weather World, Our Town, Conversations Live, Keystone Stories, The Local Groove, Culinary Connections, In Performance at Penn State, and others.
  • Digital productions, podcasts, and online learning tools like Science-U at Home, Year-round Gardening, and thousands of free classroom resources available on PBS LearningMedia.
  • Community events like the Multicultural Children’s Festival, free movie screenings, Masterpiece premier screenings, PBS KIDS Day at DelGrosso’s Park, reading and poetry contents, character meet and greets, and more.

How is WPSU part of Public Media?

WPSU is part of a nationwide public media network that serves millions of Americans. This network reaches nearly 99% of the U.S. population with free and accessible programs, regardless of population density, income, or geographic challenges.

What does WPSU provide?

  • Educational Programming for Kids
    WPSU programming is one of the few free, universally accessible educational resources for children in central and northern Pennsylvania. It supports learning through programs like Sesame Street, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, Alma’s Way, Molly of Denali, and other shows and learning games from PBS Kids as well as locally produced educational content that schools and families rely on.
  • Informative Programming for learners of all ages
    From science and nature to history, arts, and human behavior, WPSU delivers programming for curious minds of all ages. Shows like NOVA, Nature, Hidden Brain, American Experience, Finding Your Roots and others create a lifelong classroom open to everyone, everywhere.
  • Local News and Cultural Coverage
    WPSU provides regional news, public affairs programming, and arts and culture coverage that commercial media often overlooks—especially in more rural counties. With programs like Take Note, The Local Groove, Conversations Live, and the Our Town series, WPSU offers a vital platform for local stories, regional arts, and community voices. In many of these communities, WPSU remains one of the only local media outlets dedicated to in-depth, regional coverage.
  • Emergency Communication
    WPSU is part of the Emergency Alert System. During severe weather, public health crises, or other emergencies, local public stations quickly deliver life-saving information to the communities they serve.
  • Service to Rural Communities
    In a state as geographically diverse as Pennsylvania, with many rural and mountainous areas, federal funding helps maintain service where other media outlets can’t or won’t reach.

What are the potential consequences of reducing or eliminating federal funding?

The impact of federal funding on public media is huge — especially for stations like WPSU. Without it, our ability to educate, inform, and protect our communities would be seriously diminished. Cuts to federal funding could lead to:

  • Reduced access to educational programming for children.
  • Limited availability of local news and cultural content.
  • Decreased emergency broadcasting capabilities.
  • Financial strain on stations, potentially leading to closures.

How can I support WPSU?

WPSU thrives on community support. THANK YOU for taking the time to learn more about public media and why it matters. It’s one of the last truly public spaces in our media landscape — free, accessible, and designed to serve people, not profits. Your interest, curiosity, and support help keep trusted, educational, and community-centered media strong for everyone.