Bill Overview
Title: NPR Act
Description: This bill prohibits federal funding of National Public Radio (NPR), including by prohibiting the use of federal funds received by a public broadcast station to pay dues to or purchase programming from NPR.
Sponsors: Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13]
Target Audience
Population: People who access NPR programming via public radio stations across the USA
Estimated Size: 37500000
- NPR is a national organization that provides news and cultural programming in the United States.
- Many public broadcast stations, particularly in rural or underserved areas, rely on NPR for a significant portion of their content.
- Federal funding helps ensure that NPR programming is available across diverse regions, potentially reaching millions.
- Public radio listeners who rely on NPR for news, education, and cultural content will be directly impacted if NPR cannot distribute its programming due to lack of funds.
Reasoning
- The population includes a wide range of NPR listeners, from die-hard fans to occasional listeners.
- Some listeners who are economically disadvantaged or live in rural areas may rely more heavily on public radio for free access to news and cultural content.
- Urban areas with more media diversity may face less impact than rural areas where NPR might be a primary source of quality programming.
- Although all of these individuals might benefit in some way from the public service provided by NPR, only a subset would experience a substantial change in their wellbeing if federal funding was withdrawn.
- The policy's fiscal constraints make it critical to understand whose wellbeing scores will be affected directly through the loss of NPR programming, considering that funding is significant and would need meticulous redirection to maintain service level.
Simulated Interviews
Farmer (Rural Iowa)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- NPR is my primary source of news, especially since other outlets often don't cover rural issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 6 |
Graphic Designer (Brooklyn, New York)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I enjoy the uniqueness of NPR content, but it's not my only source.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- NPR keeps me connected to the world and supports lifelong learning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 8 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I catch NPR sometimes but I also have other sources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Park Ranger (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 51 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Without NPR, much of my access to balanced news and topics could disappear.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 9 |
Small Business Owner (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- NPR provides a crucial lens into national affairs that isn't biased.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 7 |
Sales Manager (Houston, Texas)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I like the practical takeaways from NPR, but I can get them elsewhere if needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
College Student (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Losing NPR would mean having to find more subscription services for reliable content.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 7 |
Nurse (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- NPR helps me stay informed in my field and understand policy impacts on healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 8 |
Public School Teacher (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- NPR provides content that enhances the learning experience for my students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $440000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $480000000)
Year 2: $440000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $480000000)
Year 3: $440000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $480000000)
Year 5: $440000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $480000000)
Year 10: $440000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $480000000)
Year 100: $440000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $480000000)
Key Considerations
- The reliance of rural and underserved communities on NPR for unbiased news and cultural programming.
- The potential impact on local economies due to changes in programming and spending by NPR and public radio stations.
- Long-term impacts on media plurality and access to diverse news sources if NPR's scale diminishes.