The Future of Federal Funding for KCCU
The federal government is considering the elimination of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the agency that helps fund KCCU and other public radio stations across the country. The administration plans to send the memo to Congress, opening a 45-day window in which the House and Senate can either approve the rescission or allow the money to be restored. On Wednesday, April 16, NPR CEO Katherine Maher discussed the memo with All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly. Federal funding for public radio is crucial Public radio funding makes up a small fraction of the federal budget but its impact is enormous, particularly for rural, underserved and emergency-prone communities. KCCU, NPR, PBS and stations across the country are now facing a direct and immediate threat to our ability to serve the public. |
What can I do to help? The most impactful way to support your local public radio station is by making a donation. Every contribution helps us continue delivering the news, music, and emergency alerts our community relies on. Continuing KCCU’s mission will require your ongoing and continuous generous support. If you are already a KCCU supporter, thank you. If not, now is an excellent time to join or increase your support. We need more than just financial support. A robust and diverse group of grassroots advocates is essential to securing ongoing federal funding. You can make a difference by urging your Congressional representative to endorse annual federal funding for public radio. 
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Learn more and join the movement at Protect My Public Media—a collaboration of local public radio and television stations, national distributors, producers, viewers, listeners, and others who are committed to a strong public media in the U.S. Your voice and support are vital. Act now to ensure KCCU can keep serving you and your community. CPB funding for public radio works and is essential Imagine a world where vital information, cultural enrichment, and emergency alerts are accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live or their financial situation. This is the reality that federal funding for public radio helps create. KCCU, as an NPR member station, is part of a vast network of 1,500 locally and independently managed stations. This network is partially funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), ensuring that high-quality, free programming reaches every corner of the nation. 
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The Corporation for Public Broadcasting plays an essential role in delivering diverse and important content. KCCU enriches our public radio audience daily with NPR national shows like Morning Edition and All Things Considered to local gems such as Mary McClure’s Slice of Life, classical programs featuring preview of the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, the annual Lawton Schubert Music Club and the Cameron University presentation of Handel’s Messiah and hundreds of Public Service Announcements featuring the events from area non-profit organizations.
But public radio's impact goes beyond entertainment and information. At KCCU Radio, we provide critical emergency alerts that can save lives during severe weather events. In 2024 alone, we broadcast over 366 weather alerts, including tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, and child abduction emergency alerts. These alerts are indispensable for community safety.
Moreover, our collaboration with other state public radio stations enhances reporting on crucial topics like education, health, the environment, and government affairs in Oklahoma. This collective effort ensures that residents are well-informed and engaged with issues that affect their lives.
Federal funding for public radio is not just about keeping the airwaves alive; it's about maintaining a lifeline that connects, informs, and protects communities. Supporting this funding means investing in a resource that benefits everyone, every day.
Corporation for Public Broadcasting – providing a vital role to KCCU
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is a cornerstone of American public media, established by Congress through the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. As a private, nonprofit entity, CPB's mission is to ensure that everyone has access to free, over-the-air public media, while also fostering the growth of digital services through strategic grants and partnerships.
Unlike NPR and PBS, CPB does not produce content or manage stations. Instead, it provides essential funding and support to local public radio outlets, enabling them to deliver high-quality programming to communities across the nation.
Today, CPB-funded public media reaches nearly 99% of the U.S. population, with around 42 million people tuning in to public radio each week. This widespread reach underscores the importance of CPB's role in maintaining a vibrant and accessible public media landscape.
Supporting CPB means investing in a resource that enriches lives, informs communities, and ensures that vital information is available to all, regardless of geographic or economic barriers.
How is the CPB funded?
CPB receives federal funding from Congress two years in advance. The advance appropriation isolates CPB from politically motivated interference with programming.
Why does KCCU or any public station need federal funding?
Even though listener support makes up the bulk of our support, federal funding — which amounts to about $1.60 per person annually — makes public radio possible.
CPB’s investment directly supports local, independent, non-profit stations like KCCU Radio across the country and enables them to provide essential programs and services. As we know from our transmitters in Altus, Ardmore, Lawton and Wichita Falls, public radio stations are sometimes the only sources of news and local culture programming available on the radio.
The CPB also negotiates music licensing for all public stations — saving them millions in costs — and offers administrative support that enables stations to collaborate efficiently by sharing information, research and services in a cost-effective manner.
The importance of fact-checked journalism in today’s world
In an era where social media allows anyone to share their opinions instantly, the need for journalism rooted in rigorous fact-checking/research has never been more critical. Reliable journalism is essential for making informed decisions that impact our health, safety, finances, democracy, and future.
Non-profit public radio stands as a beacon of high-quality service to communities, especially as other local media outlets face downsizing or closure. Public media adheres to strict ethical standards, ensuring that our content remains free from commercial influence. Our unwavering mission is to serve you—the public—with integrity and dedication.
Supporting public radio means investing in trustworthy journalism that prioritizes accuracy and serves the greater good. Let's champion the value of fact-checked reporting and uphold the standards that protect our communities and democracy.
The critical role of CPB funding for KCCU
For fiscal year 2025, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) provides $106,895 to KCCU, accounting for approximately 16.7% of our budget. This funding is not just a contribution; it's a lifeline.
Every dollar of our CPB grant is essential for covering the production and broadcasting costs of the local and national programs you rely on, as well as maintaining the operation of our four transmitter towers across the KCCU coverage area. Without this support, the quality and reach of our programming would be severely compromised.
At KCCU, securing funding from a variety of sources—including individual listeners, local businesses, foundations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)—is not just important; it's crucial for our survival. The loss of CPB funds would have an immediate and significant impact on our ability to deliver the local news and music programming that our community depends on.
Without this vital support, our capacity to serve you with high-quality, reliable content would be severely diminished. We urgently need your help to ensure that we can continue to provide the essential services that keep our community informed and connected. Your support is more critical now than ever.
A reminder of what you can do:
1. Send a message to Congress - ProtectMyPublicMedia.org
2. Learn about CPB's role in public media - Corporation for Public Broadcasting
