You may have heard that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is winding down operations. That news is real, and serious. However, PBS is not shutting down. And Mountain Lake PBS is not shutting down.
Still, what’s happening in Washington threatens the foundation that public media in the U.S. has relied on for more than 50 years.
What is CPB, and how is it different from PBS?
- CPB is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It’s a nonprofit created by Congress in 1967 to distribute federal funding to nearly 1,500 local public media stations, TV and radio alike. It does not produce programs or operate stations.
- PBS is a nonprofit program distributor. It provides national content like PBS NewsHour, NOVA, Antiques Roadshow, PBS Kids to local public television stations.
- Mountain Lake PBS is one of those local stations. We’re independently owned and operated. We pay membership dues to PBS to carry national programs, and we produce our own local content.
Federal money goes to CPB. CPB distributes that funding to stations like Mountain Lake PBS. It’s how public media stays accessible to everyone, especially in rural communities.
What’s happening now?
In July, Congress passed a bill that pulls back CPB funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. On top of that, the President’s budget proposal for next year eliminates CPB entirely. As a result, CPB announced it will shut down.
What does this mean for Mountain Lake PBS?
Mountain Lake PBS is still here serving the North Country, the Champlain Valley, and our Canadian viewers. But the loss of federal funding is significant. For us, it’s nearly $1 million per year—about one-third of our annual budget. And this isn’t a one-time hit. This cut will affect us year after year.
To continue providing the trusted programs, educational resources, and local storytelling you count on, we’ll need to rely even more on the strength of our community. That means support from individuals, businesses, partners, and viewers like you.
Without it, we face hard choices about what local programs and services we’ll be able to continue.
We’re doing everything we can to protect what matters most. We’re grateful to have you with us, standing for Mountain Lake PBS. Thank you.