>>Perhaps you know something I do not (I am sure you know many things I am not aware of) about PBS and US Public Radio. Now, all radio frequencies are controlled by our FCC (Federal Communications Commission) so if anything is "broadcast" over the air waves the FCC controls it.
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>Same thing in Canada. Why are you mentioning this though? Curious.
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>> Now, I thought that PBS and US Public Radio were private entities which depended upon donations and some degree of funding from the Federal Government as well as grants from individuals and corporations and activities such as auctions. To what degree are these systems "government businesses". The Federal Government gives less and less to public radio and television every year.
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>You are right (after a search of their websites). They are different that in England and Canada. They are private non-profit orgs. Regardless, the BBC is a fine example of a governmental organization that excels at what is does. So I think this refutes the claim that all governmental orgs are substandard.

Evan;

The reason for my question was I may not have heard the "latest" news concerning the position of our federal government, PBS and Public Radio. You never know what the latest correct story is. Many times we hold on to "old news" and think it is current. Could you see the Bush administration investing in culture? Culture? What’s culture boy? Is it that there darn thing in a test tube?

Yes, I think the BBC is an outstanding example of government doing a fine job. However, there are those who do not like art or anything related to that subject and think the BBC should not exist. Our PBS does a good job and we even get to see many fine BBC programs that "normal TV" would never show. Who wants to be educated or entertained? Man, just give me a good beer commercial and a foot ball game (United States version thereof). Now that is TV!

Excuse me while I get sick!

One of my favorite BBC programs for the last 26 years is "Are You Being Served"? We have taped all the shows and watch several each week. That is one of the greatest TV shows I have ever seen and even my son and daughter watch it. My kids did not understand the program until they "entered the working world".

Tom