American Coalition for Public Radio

On the Air When it Matters Most

Public Radio Connects America

Don’t Let Local Independent Voices Go Silent

Stand With Your Public Radio Station

Let Your Voice Be Heard

With reduced resources and an uncertain future, independent local public radio stations are fighting to survive. Stations serving rural, remote, and tribal communities face greater risks than ever before, but every station is facing financial headwinds. Contact your lawmakers to prevent listeners across America from being left in the dark.

Tell Congress: support the stations that connect my community.

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Public Radio:

By the Community, For the Community

After decades of bipartisan support, the elimination of federal funding left public radio stations facing budget challenges, operational hurdles, and an uncertain future. Local stations are resilient and communities are supportive, but without dedicated federal support, the entire public media system — and especially broadcasters in the country’s most rural and underserved communities — is in jeopardy.

The universal access provided to 99% of Americans across all 50 states is an invaluable civic resource. Now, more than ever, we must secure new federal support for the stations you rely on. We need you — your voice, your support, and your action — to keep your community connected.

Learn More About the Future of Community Station Support
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Supporting Rural, Remote, and Tribal Communities
The Rural Radio Resiliency Fund

  • The Challenge:
    Local public radio stations are vital for reaching rural, remote, tribal, and otherwise underserved communities. But with the rescission of federal funding last year, with every local station impacted, these stations are now among the most financially vulnerable broadcasters in the country.

  • The Solution:
    The Rural Radio Resiliency (RRR) Fund is a dedicated, operations-focused program supporting independent local public radio stations that serve rural, remote, and tribal communities. This new program strengthens continuity and modernization of public radio stations serving the country’s most underserved areas.

Rural-serving stations are located in nearly every state, and are part of a nationwide network of public radio stations upon which we all depend. For many rural and tribal areas, these stations are the sole source of locally relevant news, cultural programming, and life-saving information. With fewer resources and limited community fundraising opportunities, higher-than-average infrastructure costs, and unique operational challenges, federal support is critical to their future.
Why RRR Works
  • Provides necessary operational and infrastructure support to the most vulnerable stations
  • Supports and is backed by state and local emergency managers and first responders
  • Ensures at-risk communities are never left without access to emergency information and alerts
  • Enhances station infrastructure modernization, operational continuity, equipment resiliency and redundancy, and cybersecurity capabilities
  • Recognizes the value of tribal stations, meeting their needs through dedicated support and partnerships with tribal entities
  • Prevents rural station closure, boosting the sustainability of the entire public radio network and keeping the programming you love on the air
What's at Stake
Severe Budget Shortfalls
Historically, federal grants accounted for upwards of 50% of some stations’ budgets. This support was a bedrock for smaller and more rural stations broadcasting over less densely populated and topographically complex areas. If these budget gaps cannot be closed, many stations will be unable to operate.
Widespread Job Losses
Recent cuts have altered the job landscape for the more than 16,000 journalists, educators, engineers, and other employees in public media. Public radio stations are owned, operated, and staffed by people who live in the communities they serve — and who bring trusted news, educational programming, and cultural stories into homes every day.
Loss of Local News Coverage
Public radio stations are often the only source of local journalism in the communities they serve. Over 90% of rural public radio stations provide original local news coverage. If these stations go dark, there will be no one to cover school board meetings, local elections, or help hold local public officials accountable.
Silencing Rural, Remote, and Tribal Communities
Rural radio stations provide emergency communications across broadcast and digital platforms, support unique local arts and culture not featured in the national media, are often the only source of local news in their communities, and keep the areas they serve safe. Their value is immeasurable, but without dedicated federal support, their listeners could be left in the dark, for good.
Loss of Public Safety Coverage & Emergency Alerting
During times of crisis — from natural disasters, to power outages, to national security emergencies — local public radio stations are essential lifelines. Without funding for the infrastructure that makes this life-saving system possible, the alerts families depend on to stay safe could be silenced.
Disappearance of Arts, Cultural, and Music Programming
Public radio stations feature noncommercial music programming, highlight community and cultural events, and provide special coverage — like featuring local and high school sports — that can’t be found anywhere else. Losing the reporters, DJs, and stations that bring this coverage and programming to communities would likely end these invaluable local services forever.
Entire Stations Will Shut Down
In rural regions, remote areas, and tribal communities, the loss of federal support means station closure is not just a risk — it’s a certainty. Stations in larger cities likewise face financial hardships that will limit their community services. These stations guard against the spread of news deserts, help emergency managers and first responders during emergencies, and are among the last outlets preserving local history and culture.

Now is the time to secure a new future for the public radio stations that need it most. Lawmakers in Washington can make a difference, but they need to hear from you.

Contact your elected officials to secure the future of your local stations.
TAKE ACTION