{"id":63436,"date":"2025-07-21T07:22:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=63436"},"modified":"2025-07-21T07:22:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:22:35","slug":"public-broadcasting-cuts-hit-hard-in-remote-rural-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/public-broadcasting-cuts-hit-hard-in-remote-rural-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Broadcasting Cuts Hit Hard in Remote, Rural Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor Richard Langley for sharing a recent CBC article that explores the real-world consequences of funding cuts to public broadcasting in the U.S.: Trump-era plan to cut U.S. public broadcasting could hit rural communities hard<\/a><\/p>\n

While discussions around federal budgets become politicized, it\u2019s important to step back and examine the tangible, local effects such changes will bring \u2014 especially in rural and underserved communities where over-the-air (OTA) public radio may be the only consistent, reliable information lifeline.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>One such community is served by KSKO 89.5 FM<\/a>, a public radio station based in McGrath, Alaska, and operated by longtime SWLing Post<\/em> friend and contributor, Paul Walker<\/a>. KSKO serves villages across the Upper and Middle Kuskokwim region, many of which have no access to high-speed internet or even cellular service. As KSKO\u2019s press release puts it:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe U.S. House of Representatives has approved a plan [\u2026] to rescind $9 billion in previously allocated federal funding. This includes a devastating $1.1 billion cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), effectively eliminating all federal support for KSKO Radio.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As a result, Kuskokwim Public Broadcasting Corporation will begin scaling back operations in a way that allows us to remain on the air for as long as possible.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This is not an isolated case. Here at SWLing Post<\/em> HQ in Swannanoa, North Carolina, we\u2019re still<\/em> dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which caused massive infrastructure disruption across the state. When systems failed in the aftermath of the storm (read one of my journal entries here<\/a>), over-the-air radio stepped up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

A photo of one of the many sections of our mountain road that was washed away in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.<\/p><\/div>\n

According to Ele Ellis, CEO of Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR), (quoted in the CBC article):<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hear stories upon stories of people telling us, \u2018OK, well, we got a crank radio or we had a crank radio, and we knew you\u2019d be on.\u2019 [\u2026] Some would crank up the volume and put the radio on a mailbox, and neighbours would gather to listen\u2026 That\u2019s what they had to do to get information that was going to help them live.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Having grown up in rural western North Carolina myself, I can personally attest to how vital BPR is to so many remote communities. For some, it\u2019s the only station they can receive. If CPB-funded stations like BPR and KSKO lose their transmitter sites due to budget cuts, that critical connection vanishes \u2014 not just news, but local announcements, weather alerts, and emergency communications.<\/p>\n

Whether or not one agrees with the politics behind these decisions, there is a real-world human cost of eliminating public broadcasting support. While PBS and NPR will certainly survive, it\u2019s the small rural member stations \u2014 the ones that reach into mountain hollows and villages across the tundra \u2014 that go silent.<\/p>\n

We encourage readers to support their local stations (like KSKO<\/a> and BPR<\/a>) if they\u2019re able, and to advocate for the preservation of public media access in remote communities.<\/p>\n

Combined with recent, severe cuts to the National Weather Service (which has real-world impact<\/a>), these public broadcasting reductions represent a dangerous erosion of the tools we depend on during times of crisis.<\/p>\n

For rural America especially, it\u2019s a recipe for turning natural disasters into human tragedies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Langley for sharing a recent CBC article that explores the real-world consequences of funding cuts to public broadcasting in the U.S.: Trump-era plan to cut U.S. public broadcasting could hit rural communities hard While discussions around federal budgets become politicized, it\u2019s important to step back and examine the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,3781,3],"tags":[10860,1330,427,20,9705,10859],"class_list":["post-63436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-fm","category-news","tag-cpb","tag-natural-disaster-preparedness","tag-noaa","tag-npr","tag-nws","tag-public-broadcasting"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-gva","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28411,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/the-guardian-study-shows-abc-cuts-to-shortwave-rural-broadcasts-jeopardising-safety-of-remote-communities\/","url_meta":{"origin":63436,"position":0},"title":"The Guardian: Study shows ABC cuts to shortwave & rural broadcasts “jeopardising safety of remote communities”","author":"Thomas","date":"September 19, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: The Guardian via Ian P) Reduction of local news and station closures disastrous for people living outside Australia\u2019s cities, researchers say Cuts to the ABC in regional and rural Australia and the corporation\u2019s increasing reliance on digital technologies is jeopardising the safety of remote communities and their access to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22900,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/pina-calls-for-abc-to-review-closure-of-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":63436,"position":1},"title":"PINA calls for ABC to review closure of shortwave service","author":"Thomas","date":"December 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Pasifik via SWLing Post contributor Trevor R) [The] Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) is concerned with the decision of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to shut down its Shortwave Radio Services to the Pacific by the end of January next year. 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World Radio Day marks a time where people around the world celebrate radio and how it shapes our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/World-Radio-Day-2019-e1550057302857.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/World-Radio-Day-2019-e1550057302857.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/World-Radio-Day-2019-e1550057302857.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10345,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/07\/the-gutting-of-radio-australia\/","url_meta":{"origin":63436,"position":3},"title":"“The Gutting of Radio Australia”","author":"Thomas","date":"July 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Inside Story) We\u2019re sitting on the grass in the village of Matangi on the island of Futuna. 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This UN News article highlights radio\u2019s enduring role\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/WorldRadioDay.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/WorldRadioDay.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/WorldRadioDay.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25023,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/radio-outbackistan-the-next-shortwave-broadcaster-for-rural-australia\/","url_meta":{"origin":63436,"position":5},"title":"Radio Outbackistan: “the next shortwave broadcaster for rural Australia”–?","author":"Thomas","date":"April 3, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: ABC Rural via London Shortwave) Could Radio Outbackistan be the next shortwave broadcaster for rural Australia? In response to the ABC abolishing its HF shortwave radio service, the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association (NTCA) president has turned to humour to propose his own broadcast alternative. 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