Congress’s decision to eliminate more than $1 billion in funding for public broadcasting is more than a budgetary blow — it’s a direct hit to stations like KTSU 90.9FM, the heart of community radio at Texas Southern University.
For 53 years, the station has delivered jazz, blues, gospel, and hip-hop to Houston’s airwaves, amplifying Black voices, preserving culture and providing trusted news coverage. Now, it’s facing a 20% operating budget cut that could silence its signature sound.
A threat to community voices
“We’re already working on a shoestring budget,” said KTSU General Manager Ernest Walker. “These cuts will hurt. Not just us — but the communities we serve.”
Last year, KTSU received $203,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a vital supplement to its $2 million operating budget. The station is among 14 HBCU-run public stations nationwide that rely on CPB funding to remain on the air.
Now, that money is gone — along with more than $17 million in CPB grants sent to public TV and radio stations across Texas in 2024. The defunding bill, passed by the House 216-213 and backed by all 25 Texas Republicans (including Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn), advances to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval.
Most public media grants will end by October.
Cuts to culture and coverage
KTSU’s reach extends far beyond the TSU campus. With streaming audiences in Los Angeles, New York and even abroad, the station serves as both a cultural archive and a vital news lifeline for underserved communities.
“We are here to serve the people. That’s what public radio is,” Walker said. “But if the people don’t help, we’ll have to make tough decisions — including cutting staff and canceling the programs that people love.”
The cost of operating KTSU’s two stations, year-round programming and numerous community events depends heavily on listener and grant support. Without it, the award-winning coverage, local music curation and public service announcements that listeners have come to depend on are at risk
‘You can give something’
Walker is urging the community to step up.
“Everybody can do something,” he said. “Some can give thousands, others $5 or $10 a month. Every dollar counts.”
Donations go directly toward programming, technology, personnel and outreach — the things that keep KTSU’s mission alive. And it’s a mission that’s deeply personal for many.
“When I think of 53 years, I remember listening as a child, especially on Gospel Sundays. KTSU was a tradition in our house — and in so many others,” said Walker. “We can’t quieten our voices right now. We are here to serve the underserved communities, and that’s what KTSU is truly about. We preserve our heritage, our culture, we educate, inspire and entertain all at the same time.We can’t let that legacy die.”
A legacy worth preserving
For comedian and proud Houston native Ali Siddiq, KTSU is more than a station — it’s family.
“You don’t forget who poured into you,” he said, in a message of support for the station that helped shape his career.
The station is calling on TSU alumni, local listeners and public radio supporters nationwide to help fill the funding gap.
“We can’t quiet our voices now,” Walker said. “We preserve our heritage, our culture. We educate, inspire and entertain — and we do it for the people.”
How you can help
Listeners can support KTSU in the following ways:
- Text DONATE to 713-313-4354
- Visit ktsuradio.com and click the “Stand With KTSU” banner on the homepage
- Share the message on social media using the hashtag #StandWithKTSU
- Encourage local businesses to sponsor programming or underwrite events
KTSU’s survival now depends on the community it has served for more than five decades. As Walker put it: “The word ‘public’ in public radio means the people. We’re asking the people to stand with us.”
