[Applause] [Music] Do you remember when the news felt real from the literal feel of the newspaper in your hands, the smudges of newsprint on your fingertips, the content on those pages that felt relevant to your life. There was the latest on the schoolboard race, the intrigue at city council, an update on that road construction project we've been driving around for months. When are they going to finish that thing.And most importantly, how much is it going to cost us as taxpayers. There was the fun stuff, to ...

NPR received traditionally about 1% of our budget directly from the federal government, but we have just 1% but we have a network of around 250 member stations which received as much as 70% in rural parts of the country and so we're waiting to see what some of the fallout will be for those stations. We have projections. We're concerned about this and we're looking at how we can butress some of their work by cutting fees to them and thinking about how to make, you know, a dollar stretch a little bit further ...

There is a statutory framework and regulatory framework that has allowed this to happen. The concentration of these media outlets into these large corporations and the sort of compiling of all these affiliates into these single companies. Um so it's legal.I mean what nextar is attempting to do which we we can get into but the next business before the government is a a request for an accommodation. It's not just please apply the law but a request for you to change something for us. Um but with respect to lik ...

We got a broadcast deal to tell you about and a possible spoiler as well to talk about this morning. A short while ago, NextStar Media Group said that it's going to buy rival Tegna in a cash deal valued at $6.2% billion. The transaction still subject to regulatory approval and Tegna shareholder approval.Meanwhile, late yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reporting that Sinclair, one of the nation's largest owners of local TV stations, wants to merge its TV business with Tegna. So there's a lot going on here ...

FCC Transaction & Commitments - The focus was on interactions with the new purchasers and their commitments in the FCC record, including addressing bias, DEI, and investing in local news [1] - Trusted local news sources are considered important [1] - New CBS owners committed to progress on bias and fact-based journalism [3] Legal & Regulatory Matters - A lawsuit involving President Trump was separate from the FCC and did not influence the transaction [4] - CBS Paramount had to pay $16 million to President Trump to settle the lawsuit [2] - A news distortion complaint against CBS is still pending at the FCC [4] Business Decision - The decision regarding Coar was a business decision made by the current owners [2]

Public Broadcasting's Role in Remote Communities - Public radio stations, like KFSK FM, serve as vital connections in remote Alaskan communities, which are often only accessible by air or boat [2] - KFSK is the only daily news service and radio signal available in its service area, making it a lifeline during emergencies and severe weather [3] - The station provides essential local content, including broadcasts of community meetings and forums for local elections, fostering civic engagement [4][7][8] - KFSK's programming includes high school basketball games and volunteer-hosted programs, engaging a wide range of community members [8][9] Financial Vulnerability and Community Support - Federal funding accounts for 30% of KFSK's budget, and its potential loss would significantly impact the station's local service [5] - KFSK has been broadcasting for 48 years, with a strong focus on local content, comprising over 50% of its broadcast day [5][6] - Despite potential criticisms of national public radio, local listeners value and support KFSK's local service [14][15] Emergency Preparedness and Response - KFSK plays a critical role in disseminating information during emergencies, such as landslides and flooding, ensuring public safety [3][11][12] - The station has invested in redundant emergency alert equipment to enhance its ability to provide timely warnings [10] - KFSK acts as a conduit between first responders and the public, preventing the public from overwhelming emergency services with inquiries during crises [12]