	Background

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) was incorporated in 1967 as a private nonprofit corporation under the authority of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 (P.L. CPB is the largest single source of funding for public television and radio programming. CPB's principal function is to receive and distribute the federal appropriation in accordance with the Public Broadcasting Act, supporting qualified public radio and television stations and funding national content. Approximately 15% of public television and 10% of radio broadcasting funding comes from the federal appropriations that CPB distributes. On June 9, 2016, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved, 29-1, S.Rept. 114-274 , the FY2017 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. Among its provisions is $445 million for CPB in 2019. On May 5, 2017, President Trump signed P.L. 115-31 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, which maintained FY2017 funding for CPB through the rest of the fiscal year. On May 23, 2017, the Trump Administration released its FY2018 budget request. It calls for the elimination of federal funding for CPB for FY2018 and beyond; however, $30 million is requested for the orderly closeout of federal funding for CPB in FY2018. 5538 , would have eliminated federal appropriations for CPB when its two-year advanced funding ends. H.R. In this bill, the congressional request for CPB in FY2016—the forward two-year appropriation—was $45 million. On June 20, 2012, the CPB released a report, Alternative Sources of Funding for Public Broadcasting Stations. The report was undertaken in response to language in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2012 directing the CPB to provide a report to congressional appropriations committees on alternative sources of federal funding for public broadcasting stations. 2055 , P.L. 112-74 ). Booz & Company found "there is simply no substitute for the federal investment" in public broadcasting and that "Ending federal funding for public broadcasting would severely diminish, if not destroy, public broadcasting service in the United States." Balanced against concerns about the role of the federal government in public broadcasting, as well as strong pressure to reduce federal spending, these issues will likely continue to be of interest to federal policymakers.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) receives its funding through federal appropriations; overall, about 15% of public television and 10% of radio broadcasting funding comes from the federal appropriations that CPB distributes. CPB's appropriation is allocated through a distribution formula established in its authorizing legislation and has historically received two-year advanced appropriations. Congressional policymakers are increasingly interested in the federal role in supporting CPB due to concerns over the federal debt, the role of the federal government funding for public radio and television, and whether public broadcasting provides a balanced and nuanced approach to covering news of national interest.
It is also important to note that many congressional policymakers defend the federal role of funding public broadcasting. They contend that it provides news and information to large segments of the population that seek to understand complex policy issues in depth, and in particular for children's television broadcasting, has a significant and positive impact on early learning and education for children.
On June 20, 2012, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting released a report, Alternative Sources of Funding for Public Broadcasting Stations. The report was undertaken in response to the conference report accompanying the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Appropriations Act of 2012 (incorporated into the Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2012, H.R. 2055, P.L. 112-74). The CPB engaged the consulting firm of Booz & Company to explore possible alternatives to the federal appropriation to CPB. Among its findings, the report stated that ending federal funding for public broadcasting would severely diminish, if not destroy, public broadcasting service in the United States.
The two-year advanced appropriations process for CPB means that in any given year congressional policymakers are considering what the CPB appropriations will be two years from that time. So as Congress continues to consider funding for the FY2017 fiscal year, that deliberation would include CPB funding for FY2019. On June 9, 2016, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 29-1 to approve S.Rept. 114-274, the FY2017 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. Included in this report is $445 million for CPB in FY2019. On May 5, 2017, President Trump signed P.L. 115-31, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, which maintained FY2017 funding for CPB through the rest of the fiscal year. On May 23, 2017, the Trump Administration released its FY2018 budget request. It calls for the elimination of federal funding for CPB for FY2018 and beyond; however, $30 million is requested for the orderly closeout of federal funding for CPB in FY2018.