An Act to amend certain provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 to provide long-term financing for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and for other purposes.
PL 94-192 (H.R.6461), enacted 12/31/1975

PUBLIC LAW 94-192—DEC. 31, 1975 
89 STAT. 1099 
Public Law 94-
94th Congress 
•192 
An Act 
To amend certain provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 to provide long-
term financing for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it eTmcted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may 
be cited as the "Public Broadcasting Financing Act of 1975". 
SEC. 2. Subsection 396(k) of the Communications Act of 1934 is 
amended by inserting after paragraph (2), the following paragraphs: 
"(3) There is hereby established in the Treasury a fund which shall 
be kQown as the 'Public Broadcasting Fund' administered by the Sec-
retary of the Treasury. There are authorized to be appropriated to 
such fund for each of the fiscal years during the period beginning 
July 1, 1975, and ending September 30, 1980, an amount equal to 40 
per centum of the total amount of non-Federal financial support 
received by public broadcasting entities during the fiscal year second 
preceding each such fiscal year, and for the period July 1,1976, through 
September 30, 1976, an amount equal to 10 per centum of the total 
amount of non-Federal financial support received by public broad-
casting entities during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975; except 
that the amount so appropriated shall not exceed $88,000,000 for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1976; $22,000,000 for the period July 1, 
1976, through September 30,1976; $103,000,000 for the fiscal year end-
ing September 30, 1977; $121,000,000 for the fiscal year ending Sep-
tember 30,1978; $140,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
1979;, and $160,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980. 
"(4) The funds authorized by this subsection shall be used solely 
for the expenses of the Corporation. The Corporation shall determine 
the amount of non-Federal financial support received by public broad-
casting entities during each of the fiscal years indicated in paragraph 
(3) of this subsection for the purpose of determining the amount of 
each authorization, and shall certify such amount to the Secretary of 
the Treasury. Upon receipt of such certification, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall disburse to the Corporation, from such funds as may be 
appropriated to the Public Broadcasting Fund, the amount authorized 
for each of the fiscal years and for the jjeriod July 1, 1976, through 
September 30, 1976, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection. 
"(5) The Corporation shall reserve for distribution among the 
licensees and permittees of noncommercial educational broadcast sta-
tions that are on-the-air an amount equal to not less than 40 per centum 
of the funds disbursed to the Corporation from the Public Broadcast-
ing Fund during the period July 1,1975, through September 30,1976, 
and in each fiscal year in which the amount disbursed is $88,000,000 
or more, but less than $121,000,000; not less than 45 per centum in each 
fiscal year in which the amount disbursed is $121,000,000 or more, but 
less than $160,000,000; and not less than 50 per centum in each fiscal 
year in which the amount disbursed is $160,000,000. 
"(6) The Corporation shall, after consultation with licensees and 
permittees of noncommercial educational broadcast stations that are 
on-the-air, establish, and review annually, criteria and conditions 
Dec. 31, 1975 
[H.R. 6461] 
Public 
Broadcasting 
Financing Act of 
1975. 
47 u s e 396 note. 
Public 
Broadcasting 
Fund. 
Establishment. 
47 u s e 396. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Noncommercial 
educational 
broadcast 
stations. 
Conditions, 
annual review. 
89 STAT. 1100 
PUBLIC LAW 94-192—DEC. 31, 1975 
Grants. 
Limitation. 
47 use 396. 
Testimony before 
congressional 
committees. 
47 use 397. 
"Non-Federal 
financial 
support." 
regarding the distribution of funds reserved pursuant to paragraph 
(5) of this subsection, as set forth below: 
"(A) The total amount of funds shall be divided into two portions, 
one to be distributed among radio stations, and one to be distributed 
among television stations. The Corporation shall make a basic grant 
from the portion reserved for television stations to each licensee and 
permittee of a noncommercial educational television station that is 
on-the-air. The balance of the portion reserved for television stations 
and the total portion reserved for radio stations shall be distributed 
to licensees and permittees of such stations in accordance with eligi-
bility criteria that promote the public interest in noncommercial edu-
cational broadcasting, and on the basis of a formula designed to— 
" (i) provide for the financial need and requirements of stations 
in relation to the communities and audiences such stations under-
take to serve; 
"(ii) maintain existing, and stimulate new, sources of non-
Federal financial support for stations by providing incentives for 
increases in such support; and 
" (iii) assure that each eligible licensee and permittee of a non-
commercial educational radio station receives a basic grant. 
"(B) No distribution of funds pursuant to this subsection shall 
exceed, in any fiscal year, one-half of a licensee's or permittee's total 
non-Federal financial support during the fiscal year second preceding 
the fiscal year in which such distribution is made. 
"(7) Funds distributed pursuant to this subsection may be used 
at the discretion of stations for purposes related to the provision of 
educational television and radio programing, including but not limited 
to the following: producing, acquiring, broadcasting, or otherwise 
disseminating educational television or radio programs; procuring 
national or regional program distribution services that make educa-
tional television or radio programs available for broadcast or other 
dissemination at times chosen by stations; acquiring, replacing, and 
maintaining facilities, and real property used with facilities, for the 
production, broadcast, or other dissemination of educational television 
and radio programs: developinsf and usinsf nonbroadcast communica-
tions technologies for educational television or radio programing 
purposes.". 
SEC. 3. Subsection BPfifs:) (2) (H) of the Communications Act of 
1934 is amended by deletinjr the period after "broadcasting" and 
insertina: the f 
ollowinp-: "and the use of nonbroadcast communications 
technologies for the dissemination of educational television or radio 
programs.". 
SEC. 4. Subsection 396(i) of the Communications Act of 1934 is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following sentence: "The 
officers and directors of the Corporation shall be available to testify 
before appropriate committees of the Congress with respect to such 
report, the report of any audit made by the Comptroller General pur-
STiant to subsection 396(1), or any other matter which any such com-
mittee may determine.". 
SEC. 5. Section 397 of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended 
by insertinq:, after paragraph (9), the following paragraphs: 
"(10) The term 'non-Federal financial support' means the total 
value of cash and the fair market value of property and services 
(except for personf<l services of volunteers) received— 
"(A) as gifts, grants, bequests, donations, or other contribu-
tions for the construction or operation of noncommercial educa-
tional broadcast stations, or for the production, acquisition, 
distribution, or dissemination of educational television or radio 
PUBLIC LAW 94-192—DEC. 31, 1975 
89 STAT. 1101 
programs, and related activities, from any source other than (i) 
the United States or any agency or establishment thereof, or (ii) 
any public broadcasting entity; or 
"(B) as gifts, grants, donations, contributions, or payments 
from any State, any agency or political subdivision of a State, or 
any educational institution, for the construction or operation of 
noncommercial educational broadcast stations or for the produc-
tion, acquisition, distribution, or dissemination of educational 
television or radio programs, or payments in exchange for serv-
ices or materials respecting the provision of educational or instruc-
tional television or radio programs. 
"(11) The term'public broadcasting entity'means the Corporation, "Public 
any licensee or permittee of a noncommercial educational broadcast broadcasting 
station, or any nonprofit institution engaged primarily in the pro- «"tity. 
duction, acquisition, distribution, or dissemination of educational tele-
vision or radio programs.". 
Approved December 31, 1975. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 94-245 pt. I (Comm. on Interstate and Foreign Commerce), No. 
94-245, pt. 2 (Comm. on Appropriations) and No. 94-713 (Comm. 
of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 94-55 accompanying S. 893 (Comm. on Commerce) and No. 
94-447 accompanying S. 2584 (Comm. on Commerce). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 121 (1975): 
Nov. 10, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 17, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2584. 
Dec. 10, Senate agreed to conference report. 
Dec. 17, House agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 12, No. 1: 
Jan. 1, Presidential statement.