We are deeply concerned by the executive order issued May 1 seeking to prohibit federal funding for PBS and NPR, and limit local stations’ ability to make local decisions responsive to their communities. Alabama Public Television could potentially lose up to three million dollars a year if federal funding ends, and the cut will severely limit national sources of news, education and entertainment programming for our viewers.

Three million dollars represents about 13% of APT's budget. On top of that, we estimate our cost of doing business without PBS services would increase by 31%, so the impact would be substantial - effectively 7 million dollars annually.

Your Representatives in Washington want to hear from constituents about about this issue. If Alabama Public Television and PBS programming are important to you, we urge you to let them know that now.

APT is Alabama’s only locally owned full-power station, dedicated to sharing the state’s story. From high school sports and collaborations with the community college system to the most comprehensive state government coverage, APT highlights Alabama’s rich arts, culture, and community.

It’s also important to stress that Alabama Public Television provides the backbone of local and national emergency alerts and warnings for our cell phones and the airwaves; provides Alabama families with access to safe, educational content proven to help children succeed in school; supports local job training; and delivers trusted local information.

Fewer than 40% of preschool age children in Alabama attend an educational pre-K program. PBS Kids programming is preparing most Alabama preschoolers for kindergarten.

In addition to the emergency broadcast system in Alabama, APT allows law enforcement agencies and emergency responders to communicate with one another via APT’s microwave towers.

Please visit Protect My Public Media today and help protect this vital part of our funding.

Thank you.
Wayne Reid
Executive Director

Learn more about APT’s services for individuals, families, schools, and communities here: 2024 COMMUNITY REPORT