APTS Seeking $90 Million Funding Increase
High inflation would exacerbate public TV funding woes, but 2022 was also a record year of investment in the service, said America’s Public Television Stations CEO Patrick Butler in his opening address at the 2022 virtual Public Media Summit Monday. Many “consequential elections” in 2022 may “significantly alter the political environment” in which PBS funding is decided, Butler said. “We lost $100 million in purchasing power in a decade of flat funding,” he said.
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Public media had “total public investment” of $976 million in 2022 from a combination of federal and state funding, federal COVID-19 aid and specific grants, but Butler said the service still suffers from a $300 million backlog of needed-infrastructure improvements and anticipates a $400 million bill to upgrade public television stations to ATSC 3.0. PBS CEO Paula Kerger said on a prerecorded panel that public broadcasting is looking at “rising costs of trying to operate not just as a broadcaster, but as a true streaming partner."
Public TV stations in 11 markets have transitioned to ATSC 3.0, Butler said. “We expect to see accelerated adoption in many more markets in the years ahead. Our future literally depends on expansion,” he said. APTS and PBS could look to provide funding assistance to PBS stations trying to transition to 3.0, said Butler in the event's live chat during the summit. Four to five years from now “it will be difficult” to buy TVs that aren’t ATSC 3.0 enabled, said Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle in a panel discussion.
Appropriations bills in both the House and Senate include a $90 million increase for public media for FY2024, but their fate is uncertain, Butler said. “I wish it was that simple,” he said. Congressional negotiations on the federal budget have “gone on for months, and the final agreement may affect the size of our increase.” The increase would bump CPB’s appropriation to $565 million from $475 million. “We must make the most compelling case possible,” Butler told the summit. APTS plans to request an additional $50 million over this year's request in the next appropriations cycle, according to an APTS funding presentation.
“We’re hoping for a substantial increase in our funding in the current appropriations cycle, and we should know Congress’ decision within the next two weeks,” Butler said in an interview. He said he couldn’t speculate on how the November elections might affect the funding outlook. “Whichever party is in control next year, we will advocate for additional increases in our funding, and we are fortunate to have champions in both parties and both chambers to help us.”
Every FCC commissioner addressed the summit in brief, individual video messages, all endorsing public broadcasting. FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington said television broadcasting “must be strengthened and preserved.” Commissioner Brendan Carr said the FCC must provide “the appropriate regulatory environment” for the transition to ATSC 3.0. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said the FCC and public TV stations should work to create a more equitable future. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC would “stay true” to the core values of public television.