NRP video from website spoofing Tea Party, similar to MSNBC content image via The Examiner.com
The House is set to vote on barring National Public Radio from using Federal funds allowing the local NPR stations to pay their NPR dues, with Federal Funds received by NPR. (AP) However, in reading the text of the Bill (link below), that is not necessarily the case. Granted, they are currently paying their own affiliates dues with monies received by the taxpayer, which is convoluted accounting, but the main crux of the legislation is aimed at preventing the organization from using public funds to acquire content. One has to understand that Public Broadcasting in general, accepts advertising in the form of “sponsorships”, but, they are currently limited in scope by the rules imposed due to their acceptance of public funds.
Therefore, NPR stations offers basic entertainment (music) and news, much like the private sector stations that must pay licensing fees to the FEC, however, unlike those stations, NPR is unable to compete for advertising dollars in the same manner – by virtue of being a public entity. If one were to cut purse strings entirely, it would just be a question of whether or not NPR would be competitive in the marketplace – much like any other station that offers up the same formats. In addition, the stations would be able to compete for advertising dollars in the same manner – and either be competitive or not, depending upon the demands of the marketplace.
The text of House Bill HR1076,( text here) which is headed today to the floor in the form of House Resolution 174 would prohibit Federal funding of National Public Radio and the use of Federal funds to acquire radio content.”
The vote is expected today.
Frankly, if federal funding is given to a particular entity which is call Public Broadcasting, or belonging to the Public, then the type of non-commercial programming would be expected to include: anything and everything to do with the government, a c-span so to speak, but no more and no less – if it is run by the government, it should be prohibited from accepting public funds on any sort.
At the present time, programming is varied, from agricultural, to music, and children’s programming, as well as news programming. Both radio and television broadcasts of the Public Funded Broadcast systems are no different in format than say – NBC, CBS, ABC – they are more than capable of competing for advertising dollars and could do so undeterred by the FCC if they cut the government purse strings entirely.
One should understand that all licensing of television and radio stations is controlled by the Federal Government and therefore, all commercial and non-commercial stations must apply and receive licenses’ to operate. If the taxpayer is funding one station, why not fund another – say NBC?
Cut the cord, and let the fate of NPR and Public Broadcasting, be determined by the court of public opinion – to watch or not to watch, (or listen) is the question.
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