Protect My Public Media
06/12/25: The U.S. House has voted to take back funding for public media.
The U.S. House has voted to approve the bill that takes back funding for public media.
The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration and we anticipate that a vote will take place by mid-July, although it could be much sooner.
What does this mean for KMUW? H.R. 4 - Rescissions Act of 2025 claws back the $1.1 billion it set aside for all public broadcasters for the next two years.
Our future has never been more at risk, and it's now in the hands of your senator. Learn how you can make your voice heard and reach out to your senator here.
Meanwhile, donations to KMUW signal that this is a valued resource and community service.
KMUW has served this community for 76 years, and with people like you by our side, we'll continue do to so in the future.
Thank you,
Debra Fraser
05/28/25: Federal Funding Update
I’d like to offer some clarity about public broadcasting legal actions this week that you’ve heard reported on NPR and elsewhere.
NPR and several member stations filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the Executive Order (EO) to cease all federal funding to NPR and PBS.
They argue that the EO is a clear violation of the Constitution and the First Amendment’s protections for freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The lawsuit makes several arguments on this front:
- It argues that the First Amendment allows member stations like KMUW to choose their programming.
- The order attempts to keep member stations from using federal funds to pay for NPR programming.
- The EO is retaliating against NPR and PBS for speech the administration doesn’t like.
- It states that the order also exceeds presidential authority.
This lawsuit is not about politics, rather it is about principle.
While this court case proceeds and Congress considers future funding for public media, we want you to know that KMUW will continue to provide the news and music you count on.
Our ability to bring you news without partisan pressure is important to us. It is also important that the flow of information is free and open, not restricted at the whims of a sitting administration.
KMUW is committed to independent journalism and keeping you connected with your community and the world.
With sincere appreciation,
Debra Fraser
05/02/25: A Message from our General Manager
An Executive Order has been released to cease all federal funding to NPR and PBS. This is primarily aimed at funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The CPB funds are distributed directly to local public media stations, meaning the order could result in a significant loss for more than 1,300 public media organizations nationwide, including KMUW. This critical funding is just steps away from being eliminated and could result in a loss of approximately $225,000 per year for the station.
This Executive Order is among the latest actions taken by the Administration to halt federal funding for public media news, educational, and cultural programming. Stations around the country work together to provide all of the content you hear. This latest step puts all of those elements at risk.
NPR provides KMUW infrastructure, without which we could not continue with our current mission, vision and values. This includes news coverage of local community events, the arts, music community, local governments, housing, breaking news… all of which you hear on The Range, Wichita’s Early Edition, at kmuw.org, though the app, along with a total of 15 local podcasts.
The next several days are critical for public media in its entirety. You can help by reaching out to your federal elected officials and expressing your support for KMUW, if indeed KMUW’s unbiased news and music community matters to you.
Thank you.
Debra Fraser