ADVOCACY

We fight for community radio and the necessity of public funding

Community media organizations — from low-power FM to community radio stations coast to coast — play a vital role in America. NFCB speaks out in support of community media and the importance of public funding to this precious public/private partnership.

We encourage all Americans to be engaged in the story of community media and to share why it is important. The National Federation of Community Broadcasters has acted in the interests of community radio. We illustrate its importance to America’s diverse communities.

Examples of our advocacy work…

AdvocacyThe Market Won’t Save Public Media. That Was the Point.
September 3, 2026

The Market Won’t Save Public Media. That Was the Point.

I keep coming back to one question as public media figures out what comes after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting:…
Serah Mead
AdvocacyThe Information Closest to Us May Be the Hardest to Find
September 3, 2026

The Information Closest to Us May Be the Hardest to Find

What the Proximity Paradox and NFCB's Rural Research tell us about listening, local information and becoming indispensable. I've been thinking…
Serah Mead
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesOne Year Later, We Have Better Words
August 6, 2026

One Year Later, We Have Better Words

Last July, Congress rescinded federal funding for public media. In the months that followed, much of the conversation understandably focused…
Serah Mead
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesThe Story We Keep Missing About Rural America
August 6, 2026

The Story We Keep Missing About Rural America

Sixty-three percent of NFCB's member stations serve rural communities. For decades, those stations have shared stories that often don't match…
Serah Mead
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesThe Soundtrack of the American Civic Experience
July 2, 2026

The Soundtrack of the American Civic Experience

Summer is finally here. For many of us, this season offers an opportunity to slow down, spend a little more…
Serah Mead
AdvocacyContentDigital StrategyDiversityLPFMNFCB UpdatesCommunity Radio as Civic Infrastructure: Why NFCB Launched the Rural Research Study
June 4, 2026

Community Radio as Civic Infrastructure: Why NFCB Launched the Rural Research Study

As NFCB prepares to release findings from our new Rural Research Study this summer, we wanted to take a moment…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesOrganizational CapacityShowing Up Together: Capacity in a Time of Change
May 7, 2026

Showing Up Together: Capacity in a Time of Change

The throughline of my work has always been a somewhat geeky fascination with infrastructure and capacity building. My first semester…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesTrust in an Age of Noise: Community Radio’s Strategic Advantage
April 2, 2026

Trust in an Age of Noise: Community Radio’s Strategic Advantage

Trust has long been a defining value of the nonprofit sector. It grows through service, relationships, and a commitment to…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesElections, Democracy, and Media Oh My!
February 5, 2026

Elections, Democracy, and Media Oh My!

By Alisa Barba, NFCB Board Member, Former Managing Director of America Amplified Published: February 5th, 2026 True confession: When I…
team
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesOrganizational CapacityToolsTrainingWhen the News is Traumatic: A Trauma-Informed Guide for Community Radio Leaders (and Humans)
February 5, 2026

When the News is Traumatic: A Trauma-Informed Guide for Community Radio Leaders (and Humans)

There are weeks—sometimes entire seasons—when the headlines don’t just inform us. They hit our bodies like a shock wave. A…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesLeading in 2026: High-Tech, High-Touch Leadership for a Changing Public Media Landscape
January 8, 2026

Leading in 2026: High-Tech, High-Touch Leadership for a Changing Public Media Landscape

Last fall, I was invited to join the advisory board for a leadership program at a local university. It has…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyDigital StrategyNFCB UpdatesToolsWhy New Data Matters More Than Ever: Introducing the Rural Research Study
December 4, 2025

Why New Data Matters More Than Ever: Introducing the Rural Research Study

For decades, the public media system has relied on a narrow slice of data—primarily from Community Service Grant (CSG) recipients…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesGlancing Back, Gazing Ahead
December 4, 2025

Glancing Back, Gazing Ahead

As we close out 2025, I find myself reflecting on just how much has changed—and how much clarity we finally…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesNFCB Announces New Policy Partnership with Free Press and Joins the Media Power Collaborative
December 4, 2025

NFCB Announces New Policy Partnership with Free Press and Joins the Media Power Collaborative

In a year defined by sweeping changes in public media — from the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyDigital StrategyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesThe Future Together: What PMI Means for Stations in a New Public Media Landscape
December 4, 2025

The Future Together: What PMI Means for Stations in a New Public Media Landscape

The public media system is entering a new chapter—one defined not by uncertainty, but by collaboration, clarity, and shared purpose.…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyContentDigital StrategyDiversityToolsCasting a Wider Net for Safety thanks to KWMR
November 6, 2025

Casting a Wider Net for Safety thanks to KWMR

By Amanda Eichstaedt, KWMR Station Manager and Executive Director Message Station Maker allows radio stations to reach listeners wherever they…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesBeyond the Airwaves: How Advocacy Strengthens Community Impact
November 6, 2025

Beyond the Airwaves: How Advocacy Strengthens Community Impact

With November being an election month—and so much at stake for local communities—now is the time for nonprofits and community-based…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesInnovation: Beyond the Broadcast
October 2, 2025

Innovation: Beyond the Broadcast

Written for NFCB by Alex Curley, Semipublic LLC + Adopt-a-Station There’s much to mourn about the continued winding down of…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesCommunity Radio: Independent, Local, Essential
October 2, 2025

Community Radio: Independent, Local, Essential

“Knowledge societies must build on four pillars: freedom of expression; universal access to information and knowledge; respect for cultural and…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesOrganizational CapacityLeading Through Disruption: Collective Leadership in a Time of Polycrisis
September 4, 2025

Leading Through Disruption: Collective Leadership in a Time of Polycrisis

I recently came across a framing of leadership that feels incredibly relevant for our times, and for community radio. It’s…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesPublic Statement from NFCB: Community Radio at Risk Following CPB Closure
August 7, 2025

Public Statement from NFCB: Community Radio at Risk Following CPB Closure

The defunding and now formal closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has sent shockwaves across the public media…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesBoxed In? Not Then. Not Now.
August 7, 2025

Boxed In? Not Then. Not Now.

This is me—circa age 3—having a full-blown meltdown about being put into a cardboard box. I don’t remember exactly why…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesOrganizational CapacityWhy You? Why Now? You Can’t Fund What You Can’t Explain.
August 7, 2025

Why You? Why Now? You Can’t Fund What You Can’t Explain.

In the nonprofit world—and especially in community radio—it’s not enough to have a mission. You need a vision that compels…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesYou May Hate NPR. But Killing CPB Puts Rural America at Risk.
July 18, 2025

You May Hate NPR. But Killing CPB Puts Rural America at Risk.

Defunding public media doesn’t punish NPR—it guts the emergency lifelines that small towns and Tribal communities depend on. The Senate’s…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesPUBLIC STATEMENT From NFCB: What the Proposed CPB Rescission and Appropriations Cuts Mean for Community Radio
July 16, 2025

PUBLIC STATEMENT From NFCB: What the Proposed CPB Rescission and Appropriations Cuts Mean for Community Radio

What the Proposed CPB Rescission and Appropriations Cuts Mean for Community Radio Community radio stations—especially those in rural and Tribal…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesRegulationReflections and “food for thought” after reading Politico piece on Carr
June 3, 2025

Reflections and “food for thought” after reading Politico piece on Carr

Personal confession: I didn’t know how best to share this article, but I thought it was important to do so.…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesRegulationThe Role of CPB, NPR & Community Radio Stations in National Public Safety
May 6, 2025

The Role of CPB, NPR & Community Radio Stations in National Public Safety

Below is an NFCB-created explainer on how CPB, PRSS, NPR Distribution, and community stations work together to support national public…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesCommunity Radio: Driving Local Arts Economies and Expanding Access
May 1, 2025

Community Radio: Driving Local Arts Economies and Expanding Access

Expanding ways to engage your audience and community—and strengthening how we talk about our stations—is more important than ever in…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesPublic Good & Public Media
April 2, 2025

Public Good & Public Media

Public goods are the invisible scaffolding of a healthy and functioning society. They are the shared resources and services that…
Rima Dael
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesProtect My Public Media – March 6th, 2025
March 6, 2025

Protect My Public Media – March 6th, 2025

Hello friends: It is March. Whew, we’ve made it 3 months into 2025. Hope you all are hanging in there!…
Serah Mead
AdvocacyNFCB UpdatesCurrent Op-Ed: The Forgotten Heart of Public Media – Why We Must Shift the Conversation
February 5, 2025

Current Op-Ed: The Forgotten Heart of Public Media – Why We Must Shift the Conversation

The Forgotten Heart of Public Media – Why We Must Shift the Conversation By A. Rima Dael, NFCB CEO  …
Rima Dael
AdvocacyConferenceNFCB UpdatesOrganizational CapacityTrainingLooking Ahead to 2025
December 6, 2024

Looking Ahead to 2025

NFCB’s 2025 Community Media Conference and 50th Anniversary Celebration, New Webinars & Workshops, and the Audience Counts Initiative As we…
Serah Mead
AdvocacyDigital StrategyNFCB UpdatesArchiving Our Legacy: Community Radio and the Future of Public Broadcasting
October 2, 2024

Archiving Our Legacy: Community Radio and the Future of Public Broadcasting

As we near the National Federation of Community Broadcasters' (NFCB) 50th anniversary, the celebration calls for reflection on the incredible…
Serah Mead
AdvocacyContentToolsElection 2024 voter PSA Scripts for your Station
April 30, 2024

Election 2024 voter PSA Scripts for your Station

NFCB Board Member and community radio advocate Sharon Maeda has created these PSA samples that can be adapted for your…
Serah Mead
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB UpdatesNFCB Writes Letter of Support for FCC Nominee, Gigi Sohn
March 2, 2023

NFCB Writes Letter of Support for FCC Nominee, Gigi Sohn

In October 2022, President Biden nominated Gigi Sohn to fill the final vacant commissioner seat on the Federal Communications Commission…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyCommunity Stations Discuss Polarization
February 19, 2021

Community Stations Discuss Polarization

NFCB allies at the Center for Community Media this week host a free webinar on how community radio broadcasters are…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyAug. 12 Panel on Racism, COVID, Climate Announced
July 22, 2020

Aug. 12 Panel on Racism, COVID, Climate Announced

At this moment, we face interconnected crises, including systemic racism, the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of climate as a…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyNFCB Joins Call for Local News Support
May 18, 2020

NFCB Joins Call for Local News Support

The National Federation of Community Broadcasters has joined the Institute for Nonprofit News, the National Newspaper Association, the Local Independent…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyStations Get Backing Amidst COVID-19
March 30, 2020

Stations Get Backing Amidst COVID-19

On Friday, Congress approved the CARES Act, an economic package aimed at supporting the nation in the midst of the…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyFederal Budget Again Recommends Media Cuts
February 12, 2020

Federal Budget Again Recommends Media Cuts

On Monday, the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget was released. It recommends that Congress cut federal funding for public media.…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyIndustry NewsComments for Radio Service Expansion
August 19, 2019

Comments for Radio Service Expansion

The Federal Communications Commission recently announced a Petition for Rulemaking from REC Networks and has assigned in RM-11846. REC has…
NFCB Staff
AdvocacyCBD Comment Period Open
July 15, 2019

CBD Comment Period Open

CBD has been a big conversation related to underwriting, and a federal comment period is open.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacySee NFCB at #ACMPDX
July 8, 2019

See NFCB at #ACMPDX

Catch NFCB in the Pacific Northwest.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyStanding Up for Community Media
March 31, 2017

Standing Up for Community Media

The time to speak is now.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyNFCB Issues Direction to Stations Following Trump Budget
March 17, 2017

NFCB Issues Direction to Stations Following Trump Budget

President Trump's initial budget suggests an end to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyNFCB Adds Voice to Press Freedom Statement
March 10, 2017

NFCB Adds Voice to Press Freedom Statement

NFCB is part of a new effort on freedom for journalists.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyNFCB, Allies Speak on Net Neutrality
March 7, 2017

NFCB, Allies Speak on Net Neutrality

NFCB and allies are speaking out today to the FCC.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyNFCB: Drop Charges Against Journalist Jenni Monet
February 13, 2017

NFCB: Drop Charges Against Journalist Jenni Monet

The longtime community media group wants charges dropped against a reporter covering the Dakota Access Pipeline.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB Welcomes Brian DeShazor to Lead New Coalition
February 10, 2017

NFCB Welcomes Brian DeShazor to Lead New Coalition

The National Federation of Community Broadcasters today launches a new campaign to protect public media, with a radio veteran leading…
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyNFCB, Broadcasters Advocate FCC Rules Changes
February 3, 2017

NFCB, Broadcasters Advocate FCC Rules Changes

As the new commission gathers, NFCB and others urge action for non-commercial media.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyIndustry NewsNFCB Issues White Paper on Post-Election Media
February 1, 2017

NFCB Issues White Paper on Post-Election Media

We're framing legal and broadcast issues with the rise of President Donald Trump.
NFCB Staff 1
AdvocacyNFCB Station Advisory on Trump Administration
January 27, 2017

NFCB Station Advisory on Trump Administration

NFCB's new white paper addresses how community media should handle a new administration and opinions about it.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyHow You Can Protect Community Media
January 25, 2017

How You Can Protect Community Media

Now's the time to share community radio's story with Congress.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyNFCB Joins the Call to #ProtectPublicMedia
January 23, 2017

NFCB Joins the Call to #ProtectPublicMedia

NFCB urges community radio leaders and listeners to #ProtectPublicMedia.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyIndustry NewsTrump FCC Moves: What You Need to Know
January 20, 2017

Trump FCC Moves: What You Need to Know

President-Elect Donald Trump's FCC is already generating news.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyThe Non-Com FCC Rule Trump Will Change
January 6, 2017

The Non-Com FCC Rule Trump Will Change

The Trump Era FCC is expected to do lots, but community and public media will feel this one.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyAfter Election, Action Urged to Rescue Pacifica Radio Archives Recordings
November 18, 2016

After Election, Action Urged to Rescue Pacifica Radio Archives Recordings

The Pacifica Radio Archives is a great tool for social activism research.
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyNFCB, Project South Announce Station Survey
September 12, 2016

NFCB, Project South Announce Station Survey

Growing regional news coverage in the U.S. South is the goal of a new survey launched by two of America’s…
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyNFCB Calls for Responsible Action to Preserve and Protect the Pacifica Radio Archives 
August 29, 2016

NFCB Calls for Responsible Action to Preserve and Protect the Pacifica Radio Archives 

The National Federation of Community Broadcasters is speaking out about the fate of one of America's richest, and endangered, audio…
NFCB Staff 0
AdvocacyNFCB Represents at The Alliance for Community Media Northeast Region
December 4, 2015

NFCB Represents at The Alliance for Community Media Northeast Region

The Alliance for Community Media Northeast Region recently hosted its conference, and sought to bring community radio into its extensive…
NFCB Staff 0