Station is calling on the community to prepare for collective action to protect local public media
WCTE PBS is the region’s only locally owned and operated public television station.
Soon, nearly 40% of the station’s operating budget will be gone following the passage of the federal rescissions package. The package cancels previously appropriated but unobligated funds and looks to address the national debt while promoting fiscal responsibility.
Canceling budget authority previously provided to federal agents could be a step toward reducing the federal deficit and national debt by lessening overall spending levels and taking steps toward deficit reduction, which could signal to investors the government’s seriousness about controlling spending.
The controlled spending should lead to lower interest rates on government borrowing and reduce the cost of the national debt, and address concerns about the potential misuse or inefficiency of funds. Despite the possible positive effect on the economy, organizations like WCTE, which will feel the brunt of the package, say they are in jeopardy.
“This funding loss is significant and deeply concerning,” said Avery Hutchins, President & CEO of WCTE PBS. “It jeopardizes the critical services we provide every day to children, families, educators and rural communities across the Upper Cumberland. From trusted PBS KIDS content and educational resources to emergency alerts and local storytelling, this station has always been a lifeline. Today, that lifeline is at risk.”
WCTE says the government support helped public broadcasting with “broadcasting infrastructure and service grants,” both key ingredients to the station’s survival. According to Hutchins, the station is “determined to fight for its future, with the help of the very community it has been proud to serve.”
“For nearly five decades, WCTE has stood strong for this region,” she said. “Now, we’re asking the people of the Upper Cumberland to stand with us. This moment calls for unity, creativity, and support as we work together to preserve something that truly belongs to all of us.”
WCTE insists it is not closing, “but changes are inevitable without swift and collective action.”
“WCTE PBS will be announcing a community-focused response in the coming days, inviting viewers, supporters, educators, parents, and local leaders to help protect the mission and future of public media in the region,” according to the release. “… The station urges its community to stay connected and watch for updates on ways to get involved, share support, and ensure that public media remains a vibrant part of rural Tennessee life.”
Prioritized spending such as this looks to target programs identified as wasteful and ineffective while reallocating those funds deemed of higher value to the economy. According to Americans for Prosperity, “passing a rescissions package presents an opportunity for Congress to exert its authority over federal spending and enact positive changes into law.”
For more information, visit www.wcte.org.
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