MARQUETTE - A piece of legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this month could complicate the future for local public radio stations.
The bill, H.R. 1076, aims to prohibit both federal funding for National Public Radio and the use of federal funds to acquire radio content.
The latter portion would mean that local stations would be unable to purchase any radio content with federal funding.
Eric Smith is the general manager of WNMU-TV and Public Radio 90, both located on the campus of Northern Michigan University. He said small radio stations like his could face tough times if H.R. 1076, or any of a number of similar bills, make it into law.
Smith said he is in a position where he must constantly make cuts to save money. In fact, just a few years ago, about half of the jobs at his stations were eliminated. Though his crew has become streamlined and efficient, Smith said there is little room left to make changes.
"This is a small, rural station with a very tight budget. There just isn't any fat or places left to trim anymore."
Roughly 16 percent of Public Radio 90's budget comes from the CPB and Station Manager Evelyn Massaro said the money is fungible.
"We could make sure we only strictly use listener contributions for (programming purchases) and use our CPB funding for other things," she said.
The more worrisome aspect of the legislation, in Massaro's mind, is what it could signal on a large scale.
Many NPR programs are funded by federal organizations, like the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Science Foundation. If a law made it impossible for those organizations to give money to NPR, that programming may be in danger. If funding cuts for NPR are factored in, independent stations may not have much of a programming selection available.
Many backers of the legislation feel the government could be spending its money in more responsible ways.
"Personally, I don't think the government should be funding radio or TV," said U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek, who voted for the bill. "We have a $1.5 trillion deficit."
Benishek, a Republican who was elected to represent Michigan's 1st District last fall, said public radio and television should be funded by listeners or commercials.
"I don't think we should be taxing people that don't necessarily listen to it or support it," he said. "And I don't think the government should be in the position of running or supporting radio stations or TV stations.
"We've got to watch how we spend our money."
But Smith said his stations provide more services than most people realize. They air and create programming that is used for cultural and educational purposes across the Upper Peninsula and WNMU is the region's primary emergency alert facility, he said. The stations also serve as a real-world laboratory for students interested in media and allow them to work with professionals in their field.
"What could be lost here is the value the system provides," Smith said.
The White House seems to have taken Smith's side, releasing a statement on March 17 that said, in part: "Undercutting funding for these radio stations, notably ones in rural areas where such outlets are already scarce, would result in communities losing valuable programming, and some stations could be forced to shut down altogether."
While Massaro is concerned, as well, she said the she has no plans to give up.
"I don't want people to think we are shutting their doors tomorrow and going home," she said. "That's not going to happen as long as I'm here.
"I don't plan on going anywhere."
Kyle Whitney can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. His email address is kwhitney@miningjournal.net.
