Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Authorized by Congress in 1967, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization that is the major funding source for public broadcasting on radio, television, and online media. While organizations such as National Public Radio are better known, the actual distribution and broadcasting are through the Public Broadcasting Service, American Public Media, and Public Radio International (PRI). CPB created PBS in 1969 and NPR in 1970; these directly support public broadcasting stations with their own nonprofit corporate identities that can receive nongovernment contributions.

CPB, however, also provides funds to individual public broadcasting stations, some of whci pay for NPR, PBS and AIM production.

It is under a Board of Directors, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. Members, who serve six-year term, set policy, and establish programming priorities. The Board, in turn, appoints the president and chief executive officer, who then names the other corporate officers.