http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110317/ap_on_en_ot/us_congress_npr
Posted on March 17, 2011 - 10:02 PM
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House votes to cut off federal funds for NPR
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Good, make them sell frickin ads like the rest of us.
Especially since their own CEO said they could get plenty of money on their own and didn't need the gubmint.
NPR needs to see if they really do have a market.Posted on March 17, 2011 - 10:16 PM # -
If the government stops funding NPR, the big cities won't see much or any change. They'll still have enough funding by pledge drives and corporate sponsorship to continue on. It's the small towns and rural areas that will lose NPR.
Posted on March 17, 2011 - 10:22 PM # -
We are one of those sustainable givers to NPR but to be honest I can't remember the last time I've listened to them.
Smaller markets should not have to go without NPR that would be a great loss. I agree with Andrew, NPR has a huge loyal audience, its unlikely its going away time soon, particularly with this President in office.
Posted on March 17, 2011 - 10:32 PM # -
How many small markets have NPR as stand alone? Don't most of them come from a larger market into the small market?
Posted on March 17, 2011 - 10:41 PM # -
http://www.slate.com/id/2288506/
Are there really places in America where NPR is the only available news source?
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting counts 12 public radio stations that are the only radio or television broadcasters within a 50-mile radius. Nine of those stations are in Alaska, two are in West Virginia, and one is in Texas. The network also maintains transmitter networks that relay NPR affiliates' signals to distant parts of sparsely populated states, like South Dakota. (While there are anecdotal reports of other NPR-only zones all over the country, these claims are hard to assess. Broadcast availability depends on such local factors as topography and weather, and two homes separated by a hill might get different stations.)
Of course, rural Americans can buy a print newspaper, and those with a computer can probably dial up to the Internet. The Universal Service Fund provides subsidies for telecommunications companies to install land lines in remote areas. Today, the vast majority of the 5.6 million households (PDF) in America without telephone access are in their situation because of poverty or bad credit rather than geographic isolation.
In areas that get only one radio station, broadband is probably not coming along anytime soon. According to the FCC, broadband communication lines still haven't reached 24 million Americans, so they can't get high-speed Internet—that's four megabits* per second or faster—no matter how much money they're willing to spend. Television is more widely available. Today, 98.9 percent of American households have a TV set and receive at least one station.Posted on March 17, 2011 - 10:55 PM # -
That's easily a solid justification for keeping them on the air.
One common thought is, "if only all those NPR listeners would tune to us", but I don't think it would work that way.
Maybe in some of the areas mentioned. Not too many choices, and the tech culture isn't as forward as it is in places with higher population densities.
Most people would just do something else. Over the years, I've watched a lot of people get turned off on radio. Some of that is just the new tech options competing. Nothing to be done there.
A lot of it is the serious dilution of value we've seen since it was deregulated. Content to ad ratio is high, actual value is often low. Talk is one of the higher value formats, just because it has daily relevance, and personas and stories people can identify with and invest in, making the ADS worth it.
NPR is a high value offering most of the time. And it does run ADS, just not the LOUD ONES we hear all the time. Most NPR funding comes from corporations and people anyway.
I heard it was like 2 percent of their operating budget coming from Uncle Sam. Seems to me, this is showmanship, more than it is policy that makes any sense.
You know, I got asked last week, after somebody pointed to the radio in my office, "You listen to that?"
Never happened before. Was a late 20, maybe early 30 something who said it too.
I think losing NPR would simply reduce the overall mind-share radio still has, more than it would benefit the medium. That reduction could very easily offset the potential revenue often mentioned by commercial radio operators.
If we don't have the political will to undo the policy that got us here, then maybe we should look at other options.
Honestly, saying "down with NPR" is not materially different from the people currently attacking labor. The end product is everybody has it equally shitty.
No thanks.
Maybe put some subsidies out there for smaller scale operators to actually add value and sell that?
Key it to things that are relevant locally and on a daily basis. Hosts, programs, news, other entertainment.
This might not be popular, but I don't think we really need big radio. We just need well executed, relevant radio. Not like the signals go that far, and it's not like streams, podcasts and such can't be used to add a lot of value either.
...or, maybe that's just too left?
So then, leave NPR alone, and let the big kids figure it out. They will eventually, or lose enough money to sell it to people that can and will do what they know how to do.
In this town, PDX, surely there are more than a coupla people able to do talk, and some themed music / special interest programs. Used to be.
And they were there with NPR, and life was good. If they are there again, life will be good. That's the answer.
Posted on March 17, 2011 - 11:14 PM # -
From what I understand, it's 5% of thier operating budget. So this is obviously another grandstand play by the Republicans to appease the conservatives, who see NPR as some Commie-Pinko threat. I'm so glad the Republicans are working so hard to create jobs and improve the economy like they promised.
NPR will be okay in spite of this transparent theater.
Posted on March 17, 2011 - 11:23 PM # -
Good.
Posted on March 17, 2011 - 11:47 PM # -
Here's the All Access take:
---------------------------------------------NPR Defunded By The House---------------------------------------------
The House Of Representatives has voted largely along party lines to support H.R. 1076, which will "prohibit Federal funding of National Public Radio and the use of Federal funds to acquire radio content."
The bill passed by a 228-192 vote, with one lawmaker voting "present." No Democrats voted for it. Only 7 Republicans voted against the measure.
The vote is largely symbolic however, as the resolution is unlikely to pass in the Senate or be signed by President OBAMA.
The WHITE HOUSE released a statement strongly opposing the bill but did not issue a veto threat, writing "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."
"At a time when other news organizations are cutting back and the voices of pundits are drowning out fact-based reporting and thoughtful analysis, NPR and public radio stations are delivering in-depth news and information respectfully and with civility. It would be a tragedy for AMERICA to lose this national treasure," said JOYCE SLOCUM, NPR's Interim CEO.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 12:00 AM # -
"You know, I got asked last week, after somebody pointed to the radio in my office, "You listen to that?"" Was the radio turned on? If so, he may have been referring to what was coming out of it.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 12:09 AM # -
Good question!
No. It was just there. Was the GE III. I had brought it in to use on a coupla late nights.
I did ask if they referred to the type of radio, and it was not that. It was just radio in general. Why not stream, or use a pod?
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 08:00 AM # -
NPR (and PBS) was founded to be a PUBLIC broadcaster, aiming its programming at the American mainstream, to promote the education of the people as a whole, rather than at the lowest common denominator. Conservative Republicans and Tea Party people just don't get it.
They think NPR (and PBS) programming is "too liberal" for their vision of this country, which is, of course, largely Reaganomic. If they succeed in killing off NPR (and PBS) AND the stations that carry them, like OPB, then that will do more harm than good. Imagine what a conservatively-oriented religious outfit could do with OPB's statewide TV and radio networks, for example.
Which is exactly what the R's and T's want. Anything aimed at the mainstream is considered "too liberal for America." So what do they want with such outlets? Kill them off. Zero tolerance.
In other words: Tell the mainstram that they're not the mainstream anymore...they are.
That should scare any mainstream American.
Best, M.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 08:44 AM # -
Well said, M. It's what I said before, but you said it better.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 10:09 AM # -
Without joining the idiotic rant about the politics of NPR vs the Corporate radio world. I want to address it from the practical view of a guy who is out on the street every day selling commercial radio. Oh, I also want to mention one of the guys who make a living producing radio magazines. For example, Eric Rhodes is jumping up and down about how, should it pass, defunding NRR is going to be the best thing that ever happened to local commercial broadcasters. BULLCRAP! In the unlikely event that the defunding should pass, it would clear the way for the NPR folks to stop playing nice and hit the streets. SELLING DIRECTLY AGAINST US!!!!!! And that is the last thing we need at this time. These guys, NPR, should they start selling are not going to operate like some little print rag, or cable tv operation, they are going to be damn good. They are going to be a well-oiled machine with a great story to tell prospects about their quality programming. On the other hand, those of us in commercial broadcasting are not going to get a dime from any of NPR's big donars. Just not going to happen. So, those of you who support defunding NPR because you think it's going to help you might reconsider. Just leave NPR alone they fill a niche. And at present are not messing with our hard earned revenues. BTW, if you haven't listened to public radio lately, check it out, it's pretty good. Of course, it can't hold a candle to the Donkey show.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 10:27 AM # -
I noted the following in another thread:
"So what have these (House GOP) dynamic and exciting legislative go-getters been up to?
Well, they held an emergency meeting to defund NPR. Note: There’s zero chance of the bill passing the Senate and an equally robust chance of zero of it being signed into law by the President. So, yes, you could characterize the entire matter as a colossal waste of time".
It's much ado about nothing in at that there's no chance it's going to occur. The Republicans, as per the usual, are doing nothing constructive. It’s something for Rush and the similarly reason and honesty impaired to chortle about in the right wing, white noise, Sphere of Dim. But it’s meaningless. Click and Clack can relax.
Though M and Cap's points are not incorrect, IMO. To the latter, if OPB here in Portland went commercial they'd be fine. They're at or near the top of PPM in this market; far higher rated than any of the right wing loon speak emanating from KEX or KXL. I.e. they certainly could survive and perhaps even thrive; but it’s irrelevant to the macro discussion. I prefer them as a non-com for innumerable reasons.
The only way this becomes an issue to actually become concerned about is if the GOP were manage to capture the White House and a majority in both houses of Congress. I’ll add a note in my outlook calendar to coincide with hell freezing over.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 10:52 AM # -
Not a good week for NPR. In a related story from All Access:
-----------------------------------Man Held For Death Threats To NPR Hosts-----------------------------------
A man has been indicted on three felony counts of threatening to hurt or kill NPR "ALL THINGS CONSIDERED" hosts MELISSA BLOCK and GUY RAZ in over 20 e-mail messages sent through the contact form at NPR.org, according to THE SMOKING GUN. JOHN CROSBY is being held without bail in MAINE after his JANUARY 26th arrest, and was denied leave this week to attend a memorial service for his father due to a "history of violence" and possible "psychiatric problems."
A JANUARY 17th message to NPR included a death threat to ATC weekday host BLOCK, who CROSBY allegedly called "an annoying c--t who is helping to destroy me to use me as a human sacrifice. She will be raped, beaten, tortured, and murdered very soon."
On JANUARY 23rd, a message sent by someone using a return e-mail address of "killguyraz@killallk-kes.com" said that "100 years ago a k-ke like him (ATC weekend host RAZ) would have been hanging from a tree for disrespecting my privacy like that.... If I can make it to DC, I will try to find the k-ke and take care of business.” The FBI traced the messages to IP addresses at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE and a STARBUCKS in PORTLAND, MAINE and determined through school records that CROSBY's computer was used to send some of the messages.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 07:35 PM # -
the federal government has better things to spend our kid's money on
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 08:37 PM # -
IMHO: I'd like to see NPR summon the courage and self-sufficiency to refuse even its current low level of Federal funding...and then crank up some real reporting on the corruption and incompetency found at all layers of government, in both parties, and focusing on the abominable deficiencies of candidates as well (I'm looking at you, Newt and Michele), without worrying about pissing off the holders of the purse strings. NPR's got the talent, brainpower, audience, and credibility. Use it. Cut loose of the government funding.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 09:58 PM # -
Bigpuppy, if NPR loses all federal funding, they'll become even more beholden to their big corporate donors. That means they'd be less likely, not more likely, to go after corporate corruption or right-wing leaders that are favorites of corporations.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 10:09 PM # -
Andrew, I agree that's a risk, but I think NPR could pull it off by unapologetically proclaiming its independence from such influence, making that a condition for sponsorship, and making a point of rejecting--rather than losing--federal funding, and any other funding that seeks to censor its content. I think that given its audience size and credibility, donors would be lining up--especially with clearly stated rules. I think the Tea Party is doing NPR a great favor by trying to cut the strings, one that a fair number of politicians may come to regret. I hope that's the case. I've had the feeling lately that NPR is pulling its punches. Time to take the gloves off.
Posted on March 18, 2011 - 11:11 PM # -
the federal government has better things to spend our kid's money on
True, the uber rich get it everyday!
Posted on March 19, 2011 - 10:51 AM # -
It looks like the defunding will affect HD Radio:
http://radiomagonline.com/digital_radio/cpb-defunding-hd-radio-0316/
And, that's a good thing! Obama stated that he would support the defunding, without any of the NAB's silly mandates for analog/HD Radio in cell phones. The House passed it without any mandates, too. Come on Senate!
Posted on March 22, 2011 - 06:38 PM # -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/21/juan-williams-defund-npr_n_838457.html
Posted on March 22, 2011 - 07:16 PM # -
Come on, Pocketradio. This little act of yours is really, REALLY fucking getting old. People (yes, including NPR) are going to continue using the Ibiquity system regardless of how much whining and propaganda and dogma you try to spread to the contrary. And, knowing you, you'll just keep getting kicked off discussion boards. Best if you just shut up/off, accept it and get over it; I mean, it's just a TRANSMISSION METHOD, for Khrist's sake!
You didn't hear me pitching a big fit when E Mail went from UUCP and bang paths to RFC822 and user-at sign-domain routing, did you?
F.Y.I., Benny Hill was actually funny. You're just an annoying parasite.
SPAMMER
Posted on March 22, 2011 - 10:38 PM # -
"And, that's a good thing! Obama stated that he would support the defunding, without any of the NAB's silly mandates for analog/HD Radio in cell phones. The House passed it without any mandates, too. Come on Senate!"
In all of the excitement, I was referring to the Performance Royalties by mistake, when I commented on Obama. The link is still valid as it pertains to NPR and HD Radio.
"You didn't hear me pitching a big fit when E Mail went from UUCP and bang paths to RFC822 and user-at sign-domain routing, did you?"
WTF?
"Come on, Pocketradio. This little act of yours is really, REALLY fucking getting old. People (yes, including NPR) are going to continue using the Ibiquity system regardless of how much whining and propaganda and dogma you try to spread to the contrary."
Come on, motozak3. It was just a valid story by Radio Magazine, that will affect HD Radio if NPR gets defunded. Sorry, you can't accept that fact.
"Best if you just shut up/off, accept it and get over it; I mean, it's just a TRANSMISSION METHOD, for Khrist's sake!"
No, it's a fraudulent transmission system that was designed to jam the smaller, adjacent-channel broadcasters off the dial.
Posted on March 23, 2011 - 12:40 PM # -
"No, it's a fraudulent transmission system that was designed to jam the smaller, adjacent-channel broadcasters off the dial."
You might not like it, but that doesn't make the mode of modulation fraudulent.
Get a grip.What's fraudulent is a posting troll with a single topic agenda.
Posted on March 23, 2011 - 01:18 PM # -
To me it seems idiotically obvious to have to state this on a radio board, but here goes: NPR affiliates hold non-commercial broadcast licenses that forbid them from airing commercials. They are in the same boat as KBOO, KBPS, KMHD, and countless radio stations operated by schools, ministries, and other non-profits. They are subject to big FCC fines if they air any announcements telling listeners to patronize any business. They are also not allowed to advertise the prices of products or services in the context of them being lower than those of competitors.
Non-commercial stations can have underwriters, but there are strict rules about what can be said in underwriting announcements. Many public stations really push the envelope in terms of what is acceptable (my frame of reference is from smaller non-commercial stations that lived in fear of FCC fines and thus were extra careful in this regard).
Posted on March 23, 2011 - 01:36 PM # -
Pocketradio, if you don't know what UUCP and RFC (IETF Request for Comments) 822 are, you either (1) have a LOT of reading to do OR (2) need to log off entirely, as you obviously have no business being on the Internet.
Preferrably the latter.
(Hint: look it up on Wikipaedia. That's what it's there for. I see you've already discovered Wikipaedia, judging from your swiftly-deleted FUD that you posted on the discussion page for the NRSC-5 topic article, so I don't believe I necessarilly need remind you of it.)
By the by, if you don't believe analogue FM radio needs to be in cell phones, that it's merely a "silly mandate by the NAB", then how would you explain the fundamental workings of any early cell phone system (á la D/AMPS) and even earlier I/MTS systems? And how at least a few modern cell phones do still implement analogue FM functionality for compatibility with these older systems, however few still exist? Please explain.
You see, every time you post, you increasingly demonstrate a total lack of knowledge of the topics on which you are so quick to ridicule. Your posts are consistently devoid of real fact or even a basic, rudimentary understanding of these systems. I mean, you just today demonstrated that you don't even know what makes the most widely-used form of E Mail possible! (No, it's not just computers, wires and electricity. Refer back to my first paragraph.) This is why most of us on here have long since declared you a
SPAMMER
Posted on March 23, 2011 - 02:00 PM # -
@motozak3
"Proposed CPB De-funding Would Hurt HD Radio"
http://radiomagonline.com/digital_radio/cpb-defunding-hd-radio-0316/
I'm reposting that link, because it is getting lost through all of your obfuscation.
"Do a search Pocketradio and HD Radio and see what comes back, the nut job spams the net with his FUD hoping to influence the uneducated, he's even got a FUD blog about HD Radio which IS what he will be served liable for, since everything there is BS that has been DEBUNKED time after time."
Are you this same FUD guy? Of course, PocketRadio's blog is protected under Section 230 of the The Communications Decency Act of 1996, because he never states personal opinions and only links to reliable articles from such organizations as Radio World, RBR, etc. Also, he runs a few embedded graphs that show HD Radio's complete failure with consumers. That is partly why iBiquity is under investigation for forcing HD Radio through the automakers, because HD radios aren't selling:
Through group emails with Keefe Bartels, they are finding, "much of what you are finding we are corroborating too... we are finding very good liability facts." The wheels have been set in motion, it's way too late now for iBiquity.
Posted on March 23, 2011 - 02:58 PM # -
Not interested in the Liberal v. Conservative aspects of the conversation. However, on a local level KLCC derives about 15% of it's funding from the feds. This number was gleened from a conversation with the OM a week ago. While they believe in the short term they can make up the difference with pledges, it's not sustainable in the long run. Plus, they are limited in how much they can do with underwriting partners. Their largest single promotional fundraiser is the annual beer festival. (Which if you like craft beer is well worth checking out in Eugene...small plug for the locals) The belief is, that they would have to cut costs and the first area would likely be personnel. Currently they have a small paid staff supplemented with a sizeable group of volunteers. Those paid staffers by the way, are public employees.
OPB on the other hand receives about 2% of it's funding from the feds. Their employees used to be public employees, but they have since become a public non-profit.
KLCC's situation doesn't necessarily reflect the situation at other community public stations, but it is an instructional example of what could happen to others.
Posted on March 23, 2011 - 03:58 PM # -
Sorry, but we're not going to play this "but I'm not really Pocketradio, you're thinking of someone else" game again. And the only reason you re-posted that link is because
(1) you're a spammer,
(2) you're only trying to rack up scores on Google Analytics, and
(3) you're a parasite.Furthermore, saying you're *not* Pocketardio, yet continuing to post under Pocketardio's signature "headline-link-copied-and-pasted-quote-and-here's-a-personal-death-wish-for-Ibiquity" format only further proves that you are him. You're only fooling your foolish self. But don't you worry your thick little impenetrable skull; Dan'll probably be along to delete you fairly shortly as he usually does. As usually happens, I call your bullshit.
In the meantime, Pocketradio, you might find it useful to refer to this page: http://yellowpages.superpages.com/listings.jsp?CS=L&MCBP=true&STYPE=AD&CB=&RR=5&C=Psychiatrists&N=&E=&L=Maryland&x=49&y=28&search=Find+It
Get yourself some help, for Khrist's sake!
SPAMMER
Meanwhile, to Dan, along these same lines I would advise adding the following entries to http://feedback.pdxradio.com/robots.txt as a safety precaution:
User-agent: *
Disallow: /Posted on March 23, 2011 - 07:11 PM # -
@Lundun: Thanks for the data point! Appreciated, and something I sure didn't know.
@Dan, please ban and delete our recurring spammer. Thanks.
(e-mail sent)
@All: Maybe it's time to send Dan a few bucks? I'm gonna this next pay period. Consider doing the same, since he's clearly got some SHIT to deal with here.
Posted on March 23, 2011 - 08:15 PM # -
Thanks, missing_kskd. (What is Dan's E mail address anyways?)
What I still wonder is why OPB booted Golden Hours out. Was it a matter of OPB not having sufficient funding or a matter of OPB just not having sufficient office space for their other projects?
<sarcasm>I mean, as we all know, organising groups to rip out invasive weeds from forested areas definitely takes priority over making it possible for blind/handicapped/older etc. folks to have a way of getting the day's news.....</sarcasm>
Posted on March 23, 2011 - 08:21 PM # -
@motozak3
God, you are so emotional! LOL! If you bothered to look at the source code for Portland Radio, you would have seen that outbound links are "nofollow" be default, so posting backlinks does no good for page rank:
rel="nofollow">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110317/ap_on_en_ot/us_congress_npr
</p>Remember, my site has sat on Google's Homepage for years, anyway - LOL! See, I just got an excellent hit from Sony North America, you know, the one that is discontinuing its HD radios:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JDgbpfwGgPk/TYSrDNcTAKI/AAAAAAAAAUk/cFgpyZAGNOg/s800/sony.jpg
Posted on March 24, 2011 - 10:30 AM # -
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But, there's an anti-Christ named Bob Struble.
Posted on March 24, 2011 - 01:33 PM # -
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Juan Williams' take on it:
But last week my line of defense for NPR ran into harsh political realities. Rep. Steve Israel (D- N.Y.) chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent out a fundraising letter with the following argument for maintaining public funding of NPR:
“They [Republicans] know NPR plays a vital role in providing quality news programming – from rural radio stations to in-depth coverage of foreign affairs. If the Republicans had their way, we’d only be left with the likes of Glenn Beck, Limbaugh and Sarah Palin to dominate the airwaves.”
With that statement Congressman Israel made the case better than any Republican critic that NPR is radio by and for liberal Democrats. He is openly asking liberal Democrats to give money to liberal Democrats in Congress so they can funnel federal dollars into news radio programs designed to counter and defeat conservative Republican voices.
Rep. Israel has unintentionally endorsed every conservative complaint about NPR as a liberal mouthpiece.
Posted on March 24, 2011 - 09:19 PM # -
Good.
We need a liberal mouthpiece. Several actually. The current media landscape, NPR included, is generally socially liberal.
But, the one element not discussed by the same complainers of that liberal presentation, fail to acknowledge that there is almost NO left, or liberal economic news here in the US.
On economic matters, we have a near complete right, or pro-big corporate media, and we got that as a result of the massive media consolidation we see today.
Economically, there is essentially NO liberal media.
So, let's trade. Let the racists, bigots and theocrats have a bigger share, in trade for some solid left economic media.
Posted on March 24, 2011 - 09:29 PM #
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