In early October 2025, the FCC and U.S. Department of Commerce announced a $4.5 million emergency relief fund to keep 14 tribal public radio stations in Alaska from shutting down. The stations, many serving remote or Indigenous-majority areas, faced funding shortfalls that threatened to take them off the air permanently.
The one-time allocation is part of a larger effort to ensure rural and tribal media outlets survive shifting federal priorities and declining grant programs. Without it, many of these stations—critical lifelines for weather alerts, language programming, community updates, and cultural preservation—would have gone dark.
“These aren’t just radio stations,” said one Alaska Native Broadcasting representative. “They’re cultural centers. They’re how we stay connected.”
Why tribal radio matters:
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Delivers content in Native languages
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Broadcasts elder interviews, cultural stories, and oral traditions
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Offers emergency info in regions without broadband or cell service
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Supports Native journalism and community engagement
The funding gives these stations a year to stabilize while new partnerships and long-term solutions are developed.
Stations receiving support include:
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KNBA (Anchorage)
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KOTZ (Kotzebue)
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KYUK (Bethel)
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KUAC, KBRW, KDLG, and others
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