General Manager Joe O'Connor On CPB

Thursday, we learned the president's proposed budget eliminates funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. Its mission is to ensure universal access to non-commercial, high-quality content and telecommunications services. CPB helps support the operations of nearly 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. 

Federal funding from CPB is currently six percent of WFAE's operating budget. This money amounts to a critical investment in our award-winning local newsroom, Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins, and our increasing number of Public Conversations. CPB also serves as a constant reminder that WFAE's primary purpose is to serve the public interest. 

Every month WFAE reaches over 310,000 people with programming that informs, educates and inspires. Regardless of how you feel about government funding for public broadcasting - and irrespective of whether you're a Republican, a Democrat or Independent - the message from Washington is clear: if you listen to public radio, you should support public radio.
 
As a supporter, you are WFAE's most dependable source of funding. Whatever happens in Congress, you will remain the most reliable source of support for WFAE's public service mission. The fate of federal funding for public broadcasting will be in the hands of Congress and the president, the fate of WFAE is in your hands.

This year, please join thousands of your fellow listeners and help make public radio as strong as possible. Support WFAE's in-depth journalism, inclusive civic engagement and editorial independence. Your support goes right into the programming that you rely on each and every day: fact-based, independent reporting that you can't find anywhere else - and your support will help make up for any potential loss of government funding.

You can help keep WFAE strong by becoming a sustaining member today.