Imagine turning on your TV or radio and finding silence where “Sesame Street,” local news, and emergency alerts used to be. No more “Our Town” stories celebrating your neighbors in McKean County. No more trusted voices guiding your children through their earliest years.

No more WPSU.

That’s the future we could face if Congress approves the rescission package recently submitted by the White House.

Among its sweeping cuts is the elimination of critical funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — the lifeblood of local stations like WPSU. This funding represents 17% ($1.4 million) of our total $8.1 million budget, and its loss would jeopardize the essential services we provide every day across central Pennsylvania.

Congress now has less than 45 days to review the proposal but is expected to move much more quickly.

The Senate can pass it with a simple majority of just 50 votes, and lawmakers may amend what’s included in the package.

For over 60 years, WPSU has been more than a broadcaster. We’ve been a neighbor, a teacher, a storyteller, and a lifeline. We’ve documented the history of central Pennsylvania, celebrated its culture, and created safe, enriching spaces for your children.

Now, all of that is at risk.

Public media is not a luxury. It is an indispensable public service — one that reaches into every corner of our region. In rural areas like ours, WPSU is a vital source of local news, information, and educational programming. We are in your schools, your libraries, your homes.

Our “Our Town” series has empowered residents to tell the stories of their own communities — like Port Allegany and Smethport. These broadcasts preserve local history, foster civic pride, and connect neighbors in ways no national outlet can.

“Keystone Stories” builds on that mission by exploring the people, places, and issues shaping life across central Pennsylvania. “Cozy Corners” offer a warm, welcoming space for families to engage with storytelling and early literacy.

Our educational outreach is equally vital. WPSU’s “Ready to Learn” initiative — already impacted by funding reductions — provides free, high-quality educational resources to children and families who need them most. We offer virtual field trips, in-classroom support, and family engagement events that bring learning to life. Our educators are in your community helping kids build reading skills, explore STEM, and develop social-emotional learning.

And let’s not forget the importance of local journalism. WPSU’s newsroom provides locally focused reporting that keeps you informed and engaged.

While our children’s programming and local storytelling are cornerstones of our mission, WPSU also brings you acclaimed national content that defines public media.

From the sweeping historical documentaries of Ken Burns to the scientific discoveries explored in “NOVA” and “Nature,” from dramas like “Masterpiece,” to the trusted reporting of “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” these programs inform, inspire, and connect us to the wider world. WPSU’s local and national programs provide nourishment for a lifetime of learning.

The proposed cuts would devastate all of this. They would silence local voices, eliminate educational programming, and dismantle a trusted institution that has served central Pennsylvania for generations. And the impact would fall hardest on rural and underserved communities like our own — the very places that rely most on public media.

This is about our collective future.

Do we value access to education for every child, regardless of zip code?

Do we believe in preserving local culture and history? Do we want a media landscape that includes community- focused voices and supports continuous learning for people of all ages, from preschoolers to retirees?

Congress is reviewing this proposal now. If we don’t speak up, these cuts could become law — and the damage would be irreversible.

So, I’m asking you: Make your opinion known. Make your voice heard.

Contact your representatives. Call (202) 224-3121 or visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org to find your elected officials’ contact information. Share your view. Donate if you can. And most importantly, stand with us — because WPSU has always stood with you.

For 60 years, we’ve been part of your life. We’ve told your stories, educated your children, and connected our communities. That legacy is now under threat.

If we lose public media, we lose a piece of who we are.

( Isabel Reinert is the general manager of WPSU.)

Isabel Reinert