Public television and radio in Pennsylvania would be severely jeopardized by funding cuts proposed in the 2009-10 state budget. The state's eight public TV stations and 23 non-commercial radio stations could lose as much as $7.9 million in operating funding and 18 percent of their funding for technology upgrades. There are many reasons why these cuts are a bad idea. The partial funding that public broadcasting receives from the state means these stations don't have to pander to advertisers and the mass market. The result is quality children's shows, educational broadcasts and important public affairs and local programming that you would never get on commercial television or radio. And don't forget that Pennsylvania's public television and radio stations, which are viewed or heard by 3.3 million people, are an essential, and free, part of the state's emergency notification system. In a healthy and informed democracy, there is a place for, in fact, a need for, television and radio broadcasting aimed not at consumers, but at citizens. Putting this kind of programming and public service at risk may be penny wise, but it would be pound foolish. Don't "black out" public radio and television stations in Pennsylvania.
