ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC MEDIA - FEDERAL FUNDING
Federal funding for public media is at risk. What you need to know.
Why Federal Funding is Important
Federal funding helps ensure public media remains accessible to everyone, including communities across Colorado served by Rocky Mountain Public Media. From trusted journalism and in-depth local reporting to educational programs for children, this financial support equips stations to reach rural and urban regions alike, reflecting the diverse voices and experiences across our state.
What's at Stake
When federal funding is uncertain, the future of local programming in Colorado becomes less secure. Reduced or lost funds could mean scaled-back services or station closures, limiting access to free, high-quality information and educational resources. For many Coloradans—particularly those living in remote or underserved communities—Rocky Mountain Public Media is a vital link to cultural events, statewide news, and civic engagement opportunities.
How our Communities Benefit
Public media isn’t just about broadcasting; it’s about weaving a cultural and informational fabric that brings Coloradans together. Through local documentaries, community experiences, and programs for all ages, Rocky Mountain Public Media serves as a gathering place for learning and conversation. As media evolves, consistent federal support helps ensure that this pillar of public service continues to thrive and deliver reliable, enriching content for all of our neighbors.
About Federal Funding for Public Media
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is a private corporation created by Congress through the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. It is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting and the largest single source of funding for public radio, television, and related online and mobile services in the United States. Its mission is to provide every American with free, over-the-air access to local public media.
CPB’s federal appropriation is modest: roughly one one-hundredth of a percent (0.01%) of the federal budget.
CPB is distinct from NPR and PBS and does not produce programming or own, operate, or manage any public media stations. It distributes more than 70% of its funding to more than 1,500 locally owned public radio and television stations.
Federal funding supports essential local journalism, information, and programs – available to everyone, every day, for free, everywhere they are. Rather than going directly to PBS and NPR, the vast majority of CPB funds go to public media organizations across the country, which are some of the few remaining locally-rooted media, particularly in rural, remote, and underserved communities. These organizations then decide how to best serve the public interest with those critical federal funds.
Rocky Mountain Public Media and other public media organizations across the country play a crucial role in the Emergency Alert System (EAS), providing lifesaving public safety communications to the American people in times of national emergency, in partnership with federal, state, and local authorities.
Cuts to federal funding would hurt smaller, rural communities the most, where local public media stations are often the last locally operated and locally controlled media sources. These communities depend on public media for essential public services, from local journalism, education resources to public safety alerts and community connections.
By statute, CPB prioritizes funding for public media organizations serving rural and remote communities. For some smaller organizations, this support accounts for 30 percent (or more) of revenue. Such cuts would hobble beloved place-based institutions across the country.
Given the troubled state of the journalism ecosystem today, federal cuts would also accelerate the growth of news deserts. Nationally, and in Colorado, many news outlets have been decimated by cuts or have disappeared entirely. Others have survived through subscription models that limit information to only those who can afford it.
At RMPM, federal support represents around ten percent of our operating budget. Our work is primarily funded by members, foundations, and sponsors throughout Colorado.
While RMPM is funded largely through the generous support of our members, the funds we receive through CPB are an important part of our operating budget. Loss of federal funding would hinder our work, especially in serving our neighbors in every corner of our state with journalism and programs that are freely accessible to all.
What Can You Do?
Rocky Mountain Public Media and organizations across the country are standing together to protect public media to help us continue to serve Americans from all backgrounds with factual information. We encourage you to visit protectmypublicmedia.org to sign up for updates and learn how you can take action.