Federal Funding for Public Media at Risk – Here’s How It Impacts SHPBS & What You Can Do To Help
BUNKER HILL, KS – Smoky Hills PBS is your local public television station that serves 71 counties throughout Central and Western Kansas. It is our mission to enhance and promote public safety, provide educational resources to those we serve, establish community connections and preserve our local history.
Last week the White House submitted a formal request to Congress to rescind already-approved federal funding for public media. If approved, this move would affect the way Smoky Hills Public Television (also known as Smoky Hills PBS) would continue serving communities across central and western Kansas.
For over 40 years, Smoky Hills PBS has been a vital part of Kansas life – from broadcasting the 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championship, Traveling Kansas, and Doctors on Call to providing trusted local coverage of The Kansas Legislature. Smoky Hills PBS also supports teachers with free educational tools and engages children through PBS KIDS programming, helping to build a strong educational foundation in homes and classrooms. We also host events year-round in communities throughout our coverage area, including a Summer Library Presentation where we visit over 80 libraries!
This vital work is made possible in part by federal funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Federal funding of public media amounts to less than 0.01% of the total federal budget, making it a very small amount of the federal deficit.
Losing this support would mean real cuts to public media services like Smoky Hills PBS, affecting the hundreds of thousands of people who count on us every day. Smoky Hills PBS will be forced to reduce or eliminate the very programming, events, and resources that makes Smoky Hills PBS a trusted LOCAL source for news, education, and culture.
“This isn’t just about TV. It’s about access — to educational programming, to local coverage, and to reliable information for rural and underserved areas,” said Betsy Schwien, General Manager of Smoky Hills PBS. “Without this funding, we risk losing educational programs, trusted news, and the local stories that unite us. This isn’t just funding – it’s a lifeline for learning, something we have taken pride in providing Kansans for decades.”
HOW CAN YOU HELP
We’re calling on our viewers and community members to stand with us. You can help protect public media by contacting your members of Congress and urging them to vote NO on the proposed rescission package.
Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org to quickly and easily send a message to your lawmakers.
Sen. Roger Marshall, Call (202) 224-4774, Email
Rep. Tracey Mann, Call (202) 225-2715, Email
Sen. Jerry Moran, Call (202) 224-6521, Email
About Smoky Hills PBS
Smoky Hills PBS is your local, non-profit public television station, serving 71 counties in central and western Kansas. We provide educational, informative, and inspiring programming for viewers of all ages – brought to you by the power of public media and viewers like you.
For more information about Smoky Hills PBS, its programming, or how you can support its mission, please visit SmokyHillsPBS.org, call 1-800-337-4788, or follow the station on social media (@SmokyHillsPBS).
Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in Central and Western Kansas. Smoky Hills PBS is available over the air with an antenna, on many cable systems, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, Dish Network, HULU + LIVE TV, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime. You can also access Smoky Hills PBS via the FREE mobile app for Android and iPhone devices and is also available to stream by clicking here: video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream.