APTS: We Need Ready To Learn and Digital Funds

The Association of Public Television Stations had a couple of bones to pick with the President's proposals for noncommercial funding. While the Corporation for Public Broadcasting got the $445 million it asked for in the just-released budget -- which now goes to the Congress for its input -- there were some disappointing cuts for APTS. APTS President Patrick Butler said he was pleased that CPB's ask was not pared back and that the President continued to show "steadfast support" for public broadcasting. Indeed, the President's own budget cutting advisory panel of a couple years back proposed cutting out funding all together. But Butler said he was disappointed that the budget again recommends that the Ready to Learn program be moved under the general DOE budget rather than having its own allocation. The 2013 budget also made the same recommendation, which was excised by Congress. "We look forward to preserving Ready To Learn as a stand-alone service that does exactly what it was intended to do, and does it very well."