SC Alaska News

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has announced that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will provide temporary funding to fourteen Tribal and Native-serving public broadcasting stations in Alaska. This measure comes after Congress rescinded $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which resulted in the defunding of public broadcasting services across Alaska—a move Senator Murkowski opposed.

“Over the past several months, I have left no stone unturned in exploring options to help keep the lights on and the signals strong for Alaska’s public broadcasting stations,” said Senator Murkowski. “This funding will help some of Alaska’s most rural radio stations make ends meet for now. But it is one-time funding, and the job isn’t done until every station in Alaska has stable, long-term support. I thank the Department of the Interior for working with my office on this effort, as well as the Alaskans who have generously stepped up with donations, large and small. Alaska is stronger when our communities are connected, and public broadcasting is at the heart of the effort.”

During discussions about budget cuts, some members reached an agreement with the Trump administration to reallocate around $10 million from existing BIA funds to support Tribal and Native-serving stations threatened by these cuts. Senator Murkowski supported this initiative while continuing her opposition to overall budget reductions and worked with federal agencies to ensure that new funds would not reduce resources for other programs serving Native communities.

Eligible radio stations were offered two paths to receive funding: partnering with a Tribe through a 638 compact or contract—which could deliver awards within two to four weeks—or applying through a grant process expected to take between two and five months.

The following stations are set to receive BIA funding: KNBA-FM (Anchorage), KBRW-AM (Barrow), KYUK-AM and KYUK-TV (Bethel), KCUK-FM (Chevak), KDLG-AM (Dillingham), KRFF-FM ("Voice of Denali Radio," Fairbanks), KZPA-AM (Fort Yukon), KIYU-FM (Galena), KOTZ-AM (Kotzebue), KSKO-FM (McGrath), KSDP-AM (Sand Point), KUHB-FM (St. Paul), KNSA-AM (Unalakleet), and KUCB (Unalaska).

Senator Murkowski emphasized that while this funding provides short-term relief, there remains a need for lasting solutions to ensure all Alaskan public media outlets have stable financial support.