Chronology

Article Abstract:

A history of public broadcasting in the US is presented. The coverage spans the period from the 1950s to the 1990s. The 1950s witnessed the birthpains of many public radio and television stations as they groped for financial support from philanthropic organizations. The 1960s saw more supportive government administrations legislating funding allocation for the activity. The 1970s was a critical phase as public broadcasting became one of Pres Nixon's pet peeves. The 1980s saw Pres Reagan slashing the budget for public broadcasting as conservatives began complaining about the activity's liberal bias. The 1990s saw an emboldened conservative political aggrupation ready to mount more intense attacks on public television.

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Early history

Article Abstract:

Public broadcasting formally started in the 1920s when a mixed group of educators, labor and religious leaders asked for a license to operate advertising-free instructional radio broadcasting. In the 1930, the FCC established the Federal Radio Education Committee. In the 1940s, the FCC allocated a part of the FM radio band to educational programming. In 1961, FCC Chmn Newton N. Minnow severely criticized the National Assn of Broadcasters for its violent shows on television. Minnow subsequently allowed grants for the establishment of educational television stations.

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The Reagan cuts

Article Abstract:

Pres Ronald Reagan's administration was not particularly enamored of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Federal financial support decreased by25% in 1981 from the level the previous year under the previous administration.The Public Broadcasting Service had to rely on the generosity of philanthropists for their financial needs. It was kept busy fending off intervention from the White House.

Finance, United States. Corporation for Public Broadcasting

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