The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has played an integral role an the way Americans consume media.  In Milwaukee, Channels 10/36, whose headquarters are in the C Building at the MATC downtown Milwaukee campus, have been serving viewers in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois for more 60 years.

The recent federal budget proposal threatens the livelihood of not just Milwaukee PBS but all public radio and television stations across the United States by completely eliminating federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPR).

This isn’t the first time.  Cuts like these have been anticipated since the 2012 presidential election when candidate Mitt Romney stated that he’d cut funding to PBS, similar to Trump’s claims now. Federal funding cuts of PBS go back as far as the late ‘70s.

Learning from those past attempts, PBS stations have formed a “playbook” as described by PBS President Paula Kerger. Bohdan Zachary, general manager of Milwaukee PBS, referred back to that play- book in a recent press release and said, “when federal funding has been threatened in the past, viewers like you have contacted your elected officials to make your voice heard.”

Kerger echoed Zachary’s message and said, “PBS and our nearly 350 member stations, along with our viewers, continue to remind Congress of our strong support among Republican and Democratic voters, in rural and urban areas across every region of the country.”

Just calling isn’t enough though.  Zachary said in a recent press release that  “this is a critical time for the future of public broadcasting,” and called for the people’s support through financial contributions.

Kerger stated, the cost to fund all public media outlets is only $1.35 per citizen a year, a small price to pay for something as popular as public broadcasting.  Zachary described the contributions of Milwaukee PBS as enlightening and inspiring. “Children have a safe harbor to gain the foundation for school readiness through programs every day,” said Zachary, adding, “Students and adults are exposed to new cultures, scientific discoveries and in-depth news coverage nationally and locally.”  He called PBS “a crucial resource for Americans, teachers, veterans, parents and business leaders alike.”