A Slow Start.

Public television and public radio first received extensive federal support in the late 1960s. This funding served to unify poorly funded local programming under the respective banners of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR). In 1967 the Carnegie Commission released Public Television: A Program for Action, upon which President Lyndon B. Johnson drew to encourage a national public broadcasting system. The resulting Public Broadcasting Act in November 1967 provided the foundation for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which would serve to provide financial support for educational television. Support for public radio was also included, though some critics worried that its inclusion would weaken the program's chance of success since public radio stations would need a great deal of money. In addition, some critics feared that public radio and television would be used for government propaganda. Supporters...