A decision by Congress to pull funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has resulted in a major setback for the development of an advanced emergency warning notification system that is intended to be utilized over ATSC 3.0, the next-generation broadcast television system known as NextGen TV.
On Friday, the CPB said it will close the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program because the organization cannot absorb the cost of running the program. The announcement follows passage of the Rescissions Act of 2025, which defunded the CPB and eliminated its operating budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1. The CPB itself is expected to stop operating in September, after which it will lay off nearly all of its employees.
The NGWS program was created in 2022 and designed to strengthen the ability of local public media stations to deliver advanced emergency notifications during severe weather, public safety incidents and other events.
Congress initially appropriated $136 million over three years for NGWS, directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to partner with CPB on its administration. Under CPB’s oversight, the program prioritized rural and disaster-prone regions, drawing on the expertise of local public media and CPB’s experience in federal grant management. Within its first year, CPB hired a dedicated NGWS team, issued applications and provided technical assistance to stations across the country.
In 2022, the CPB awarded 44 grants totaling $21.6 million. Demand quickly outpaced resources, with a second round of requests from 175 stations exceeding $110 million. CPB said this demonstrated the urgent need for expanded emergency communications infrastructure.
With its closure imminent, the CPB urged FEMA to take over disbursement of remaining funds in accordance with congressional intent. If FEMA does not assume responsibility, CPB warned that most of the fiscal year 2022 allocation and all funds set aside for 2023 and 2024 will go undistributed.
“CPB has been fully invested in the NGWS program and its mission to protect the American public,” said Patricia Harrison, the President and CEO of CPB. “This is one more example of rescission consequences impacting local public media stations and the communities they serve, in this case weakening the capacity of local public media stations to support the safety and preparedness of their communities.”
