Trump Administration Seeks to Start CPB Funding Drawdown in FY 2020
President Donald Trump’s administration again proposes to cut funding to CPB in its FY 2020 budget proposal as part of its “plan to move the Nation towards fiscal responsibility and to redefine the proper role of the Federal Government.” Trump signed off in October on a FY 2019 federal spending law that maintained CPB’s annual funding at $445 million through FY 2021, despite having proposed in that year’s budget request to draw down the program’s funding (see 1809280043). The budget increased proposed money for the FCC and NTIA from what the administration proposed in its FY 2019 request. The FCC’s figure is down from its funding level under the spending bill passed in February (see 1902150055).
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The administration proposed more than $335.6 million in combined FY 2020 funding for the FCC and its Office of Inspector General, of which $11 million would be allocated to OIG. That’s up from the $322 million proposed in the FY 2019 budget but down from the $339 million enacted in the final spending bill. The White House proposes to allocate more than $42.4 million to NTIA. That’s up from the more than $33 million proposed in FY 2019 and the $39.5 million ultimately allocated. The administration proposed $312.3 million in funding for the FTC and $166.8 million for DOJ’s Antitrust Division (see 1903110069).
The White House proposes to “permanently” reduce the advance FY 2020 appropriation for CPB to $30 million in FY 2020, with another $30 million allocated in FY 2021, to “conduct an orderly closeout of Federal funding.” Federal CPB grants “represent a small share of the total funding for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR), which primarily rely on private donations to fund their operations,” the White House said, justifying proposed cuts to federal programs. “This private fundraising has proven durable, negating the need for continued Federal subsidies. Services such as PBS and NPR, which receive funding from CPB, could make up the shortfall by increasing revenues from corporate sponsors, foundations, and members. In addition, alternatives to PBS and NPR programming have grown substantially since CPB was first established in 1967.”
CPB and supporters quickly opposed the proposed funding closeout. “Federal funding is the foundation of the uniquely American, public-private partnership of the public media system,” said CPB CEO Pat Harrison. “There is no viable alternative to the federal investment to accomplish the mission that Congress assigned to public media and that the American people overwhelmingly support. Without the federal investment, the entire public media system and the unique services and value provided to rural, small town and urban communities would be devastated.” CPB said it will "continue to raise awareness in Congress."
America’s Public Television Stations “will continue to make our case with the Administration,” said CEO Patrick Butler. “Fortunately, Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate understand these contributions … very well. We are grateful that Congress approved full funding for public broadcasting in FY 2019, and we are hopeful that Congress will increase funding for public media in the FY 2020 appropriations cycle and beyond.”
The FCC and its OIG would maintain collective staffing at 1,448 full-time equivalents (FTEs) for regulatory fee offsetting collections and the spectrum auctions program. The FCC’s budget justification proposes to increase staffing at the Office of Economics and Analysis to 97 FTEs from the 74 allocated in FY 2019 and the Enforcement Bureau to 194 FTEs from the 191 during 2019. Staffing levels would decrease at several other offices. Wireless Bureau FTEs would drop to 153 from the current 164 and the Wireline Bureau’s staff would decrease to 132 from 139. The Media Bureau’s size would decrease to 133 FTEs from 138, and the International Bureau would shift to 82 FTEs from the current 85.
The FCC budget request includes $133 million for its spectrum auctions program. The White House is also proposing the FCC begin exercising “auction authority to assign spectrum frequencies between 1675-1680 megahertz for wireless broadband use subject to sharing agreements with Federal weather satellites” once the NOAA completes its spectrum pipeline plan.