Rescission Approval and Corporation of Public Broadcasting FAQ

What does the recent rescission of public broadcasting funds mean for TSPR?

BACKGROUND

On July 18 the U.S. House passed the Senate-amended rescission package requested by the Trump Administration. This package included $1.1 billion that would have funded Public Media in fiscal years '26 and '27. For the federal government FY26 is October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026. For TSPR FY26 is defined as July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.

On Aug. 1, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced it would start the process of ceasing operations. The bulk of operations will cease on September 30, 2025, with a small team staying until January to finish closing down. This decision was made because of rescission and with the knowledge that public media would not be included in the upcoming budget.

FAQ

What is the impact of the rescission decision on Tri States Public Radio?
We will lose our annual Community Service Grant that supports operations. Our last grant, received this fiscal year, was $204,090. We will also lose the indirect support CPB provided to our distribution systems. CPB also negotiated and paid for music licenses across the public broadcasting system.

How soon do these losses take effect?
In a normal operational year, most CPB grant money would have been dispersed before the end of this calendar year.

Why is the Corporation of Public Broadcasting closing its doors?
The Corporation of Public Broadcasting is a private, non-profit corporation that was completely funded through the appropriation provided by the federal government. The CPB distributed those funds to stations as dictated by the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. Without these funds the CPB cannot keep its doors open.

Is Tri States Public Radio Closing?
No, Tri States Public Radio is not closing. We have funds that will allow us to operate securely through our 2026 fiscal year while we maneuver through this disruption. We will keep you updated as we develop an idea of what the future of TSPR will look like. We do know that a long-term future will depend on increased community financial support.

Will anyone at TSPR lose their job?
We are not planning any layoffs. The TSPR staff has 6 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee. We have openings that we will not be filling at this time.

Are my favorite programs going away?
At this time, we are not planning any large program changes. There will likely be minor changes on October 1, and we will communicate with you should those changes occur. We get programs from many places, and we anticipate that some stations/distributors will be making assessments on all of their operations including distributed programs. We do not know the timing but we do anticipate changes.

Now that federal funding is gone, can you raise money with advertising?
No, we hold a noncommercial license. This means we are not able to run advertising. From the FCC website:

“Commercial and Noncommercial Educational Stations. The FCC licenses FM radio and full power TV stations as either commercial or noncommercial educational (NCE). (Most AM radio stations are licensed as commercial facilities.) Class A television, low power television and television translator stations are neither designated commercial or NCE. Commercial stations usually support themselves through the sale of advertising. In contrast, NCE stations generally meet their operating expenses with contributions received from listeners and viewers, and also may receive government funding. In addition, NCE stations may receive contributions from for-profit entities and are permitted to acknowledge these contributions or underwriting donations with announcements naming and generally describing the contributing party or donor. However, NCE stations cannot broadcast commercials or other promotional announcements on behalf of for-profit entities."

Is Public Media Still Public?
It was not the receipt of public funds that made public media public, although that was a piece of the puzzle. It is our commitment to serve our communities that is at the heart of what makes public media public. In other words, YOU, our audience, are the public. We do our best to meet and address what our communities want from us. Federal financial support helped ensure this was possible not only in large urban areas but also in smaller rural communities where it would be more difficult to rely on donations to keep stations operational. The lack of federal funding does not change our mission to serve and be accessible to our communities.

What’s next?
There are many questions that do not have answers. We will keep you informed as the situation evolves. You are always welcome to call or email the station if you have questions. The phone number is (800) 895-2912 and the email address is publicradio@wiu.edu.

What can I do?

If you do not currently give to TSPR, now is the time to do so. It is donations that keep news coverage, information, and music flowing. While that has always been , local financial support is more important than ever.
If you already give, consider increasing your gift and/or moving to a sustaining or evergreen donation.
As you are making your estate plans, consider making a legacy gift to TSPR. You can talk to our office about what this means.
Become a TSPR ambassador by sharing our content and encouraging others to give.
There will be opportunities for you to voice your support for TSPR and give your feedback to us as we move forward. Please take action when we make those requests. Your voice is important, because you are the PUBLIC in PUBLIC media.