CPB Set to Make Final Federal Grants To Local Public Media Stations.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is preparing to distribute the remaining $7.1 million in Community Service Grant (CSG) funds to local public radio and television stations, a move that likely marks the end of federal support for 1,500 stations nationwide.

Unless Congress appropriates new funding, these payments will be the last CSG allocations, signaling a major shift in the financial foundation of public media. Earlier this year, CPB distributed $388.35 million for FY 2025, leaving a small balance from unawarded or returned funds. Normally, those funds would roll over into FY 2026, but the Rescissions Act of 2025 eliminated federal appropriations for public broadcasting in FY 2026 and FY 2027.

“Local public media stations are rooted in and responsive to the information and education needs of the communities they serve,” CPB COO Kathy Merritt said in a release. “But the public media neighborhood has been hard hit because of the loss of federal funding.”

Under CPB’s formulas, radio grantees will see between $5,370 and $26,582, depending on size and service obligations. Each public television station will receive $15,680. Though CPB is ensuring the remaining funds are distributed fairly, the final payments represent only a fraction of normal CSG funding, leaving many stations scrambling.

Small towns, rural areas, and tribal communities are expected to feel the heaviest impact, with reductions in staffing, local programming, educational partnerships, and journalism already underway.