Emergency alert financing for public media in rural America faces uncertainty
In the heart of Alaska, KSTK, the community's public broadcaster in Wrangell, played a crucial role in providing vital information after a deadly landslide occurred in November 2023. However, the station's critical alert system could be improved, as KSTK was recently awarded up to $90,000 in federal funding from the Next Generation Warning System grant program.
Public media stations, including KSTK, are considered especially valuable for emergency information distribution, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Yet, some public media stations are still waiting to get reimbursed for investments they've made, with KSTK being affected by budget cuts due to Congress clawing back public media funding.
The Next Generation Warning System grant program has been delayed due to actions by the Trump administration, causing funding delays that have been especially disruptive in the country's remotest communities, where radio broadcasts are often the most reliable source of emergency information. In Alaska, broadcasters are still waiting for reimbursement, according to station leaders.
The project has been plagued by stop-work orders and lawsuits, and some pieces of equipment in remote broadcast sites are either on their last legs, not supported by manufacturers anymore, or the manufacturer went out of business 40 years ago. Many public radio and TV broadcast systems have become fragile with age, making the need for improvements more pressing.
In Colorado, KSUT radio spent about $46,000 from a half-million-dollar grant awarded earlier this year for backup systems to broadcast during power outages. Yet, around the country, nine public media stations are still awaiting reimbursement for some of the money they spent under the grant program. Another 10 stations said they never started work on their projects because it wasn't certain they would be repaid.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting sued FEMA in federal court over the funding delays, but FEMA has not commented on the record regarding the issues with the Next Generation Warning System grant program. In parts of the Four Corners region of the Southwest, broadband and internet service is potentially not available at all, or it's sketchy and comes and goes due to terrain and remoteness, making radio broadcasts even more crucial.
As Congress debates the future of public radio, station leaders and executive directors listen with frustration, aware of the potential risks posed by aging equipment and funding uncertainties. The situation underscores the importance of reliable emergency alert systems, particularly in remote communities where other communication channels may not be as reliable.
