Why It Matters
APTS Action Inc. reported decreased federal lobbying expenditures in the third quarter as the organization continued advocating for public broadcasting funding, the Next Generation Broadcast Standard, emergency communications, public television datacasting and education services.
Its in-house lobbying expenditures and combined reported amounts across three registrants each fell $120,000 from the same quarter last year. The decline follows Congress' decision to rescind federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), raising questions about the future of public television services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
By the Numbers
APTS Action's third-quarter in-house lobbying report lists $300,000 in expenditures, down $20,000, or 6.3%, from $320,000 in the second quarter. Compared with the third quarter of 2025, in-house spending declined $120,000, or approximately 28.6%, from $420,000.
Two outside firms also reported third-quarter lobbying income from APTS Action: Penn Hill Group and Van Scoyoc Associates Inc., at $30,000 each. Combined, the three registrants reported $360,000 for the third quarter, down $120,000, or 25%, from $480,000 in the same quarter last year.
The in-house filing lists three lobbyists:
- Daniel Sanchez, newly listed in the third quarter after not appearing on the second-quarter filing
- Jennifer Kieley, vice president of government and public affairs
- Kate Riley, president and CEO, who previously worked in the offices of former Reps. Sam Farr (D-CA) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) during the 107th through 111th Congresses
Broader Context
Federal funding for public broadcasting
The Rescissions Act of 2025, enacted as Public Law 119-28 on July 24, 2025, canceled previously approved CPB funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
President Donald Trump also issued Executive Order 14290 on May 1, 2025, directing CPB to cease direct funding for NPR and PBS and instructing federal agencies to review and end certain indirect funding arrangements.
PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger opposed the rescissions, warning that smaller and rural stations depend more heavily on federal support and that funding cuts could threaten local programming and emergency communications.
A February 2025 Congressional Research Service analysis reported that CPB Community Service Grants accounted for approximately 10.6% of public television revenue and 6% of public radio revenue in fiscal year 2024. Some rural and underserved stations relied on federal funding for a substantially larger share of their budgets.
Emergency communications and ATSC 3.0
America's Public Television Stations' 2025 funding materials requested $40 million for public safety infrastructure, citing Department of Homeland Security pilot projects involving flood response, rural search and rescue, and school safety.
The organization argues that public television datacasting can transmit encrypted information to first responders without relying on conventional cellular or broadband networks, potentially improving emergency communications when those systems are congested or unavailable.
On broadcast technology, the National Association of Broadcasters petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in February 2025 to establish a transition framework for ATSC 3.0, also known as Next Gen TV. The petition proposed a phased transition intended to accelerate adoption of the updated broadcasting standard.
The FCC later advanced the proceeding through additional proposed rulemaking and public comment, but the petition did not establish a final, mandatory transition schedule.
The Bottom Line
APTS Action's in-house lobbying expenditures declined from $420,000 in the third quarter of 2025 to $300,000 in the third quarter of the current year, while its two outside firms each reported $30,000.
With CPB's advance appropriations rescinded, the fiscal year 2027 appropriations process remains a potential avenue for renewed federal public broadcasting support. The FCC's ongoing ATSC 3.0 proceeding could also affect the future delivery of public television and emergency communications services.
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