Public broadcasting wins reprieve in White House

June 26, 1981

The House voted 323 to 86 to authorize $495 million for public broadcasting, turning back efforts to trim the total.Showing strong support for public radio and television, the House voted $60 million for the next three years to help stations build facilities, and $435 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for fiscal years 1984 through 1986.It also approved an amendment to set up an 18-month experiment in which up to 10 public television and 10 public radio stations could air commercials. The ads could not interrupt programming, deal with religion or endorse political positions or candidates, and would be limited to four minutes per hour.