Telecommunications: Issues Related to Federal Funding for Public Television by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
GAO-04-284
Published: Apr 30, 2004. Publicly Released: May 21, 2004.
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Highlights
For fiscal year 2002 (the most recent data), the Corporation for Public Broadcasting provided about 16 percent of public television's revenues of $1.63 billion. GAO agreed to review the statutory allocations for federal funding of public television, the Corporation's distribution of funds through its Community Service Grant and Television Future Fund programs, its distribution of funds for the Public Broadcasting Service's National Program Service and for local programming, and its grant programs for assisting public television's transition to digital technologies and services.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| If the Congress supports the concept of using funds that were designated for distribution among licensees to finance the Television Future Fund program, it may wish to provide the Corporation with the authority to use the funds for this purpose. | No Congressional action was needed due to the fact that the Corporation decided to terminate the Future Fund Program. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Before making further Television Future Fund awards or expending any funds in the Television Future Fund account, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting should request specific statutory authority to do so, if it intends to continue using funds that were designated for distribution among licensees. Should this specific authority not be obtained, the Corporation should return to the licensees such funds remaining in the Television Future Fund account that came from the funds designated for distribution among licensees. |
The Corporation has decided to end the Future Fund.
|
| Other | The Corporation for Public Broadcasting should broaden the scope of its digital transition funding support to include digital production equipment and digital content. |
Implemented for 2005 funding round.
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Topics
Allocation (Budget Act)Federal fund accountsFederal fundsFederal grantsDigital broadcastingFunds managementPublic televisionStrategic planningTelevision programmingPublic broadcasting