WASHINGTON – October 4, 2012 – The following is the statement from Patrick Butler, president and CEO, APTS:
“Governor Romney’s call for the elimination of federal funding for public broadcasting during last night’s debate has generated an extraordinary – and overwhelmingly negative – public response.
“’Big Bird’ was the fourth most trafficked Twitter subject last night – after ‘Romney,’ ‘Obama,’ and ‘debate’ – and at its peak Big Bird was the subject of 17,000 tweets per minute.
“Americans by the millions are going on social media today to protest the elimination of federal funding for public broadcasting, because they recognize that this funding is essential to the survival and success of non-commercial, educational public service media in America. Government and independent studies have also made this clear.
“Public opinion surveys over many years have shown that the American people consider public media the best investment of federal funds, second only to national defense. And support for public media runs all across the political spectrum, including half of self-identified Tea Party supporters – a rare achievement in a polarized political environment.
“The federal investment in public broadcasting represents about one-hundredth of one percent of the total federal budget. Terminating this investment would have no effect on the federal budget deficit, but it would have a devastating effect on the essential services – in education, engaged citizenship, culture, public safety and more – that public media provide to 170 million to viewers, listeners and learners, including children in low-income families for whom Big Bird and Company have been the lifeline to educational success for 40 years.
“We hope Governor Romney will reconsider his opposition to federal funding of public broadcasting, and we are confident that the unmistakable and powerful will of the American people in this matter will prevail.”
About APTS
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1979. The mission of APTS is to conduct – in concert with member stations – advocacy, planning, research and communications activities in order to achieve strong and financially sound noncommercial television and advanced digital services for the American people. APTS provides consistent leadership and information that helps our members better accomplish their own missions and goals. Through its affiliate APTS Action, APTS promotes the legislative and regulatory interests of noncommercial television stations at the national level through direct advocacy, and grasstops and grassroots campaigns designed to garner congressional support. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
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