The federal appropriations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are determined two years in advance to help insulate the CPB from congressional budget bickering. But now we are confronted with the odd paradox that one part of Congress — the Super Committee that grew out of the debt-ceiling debate — is likely debating cuts to public broadcasting even as a Senate subcommittee this week approved an increased budget for 2014.

Current.org reported this week that “If CPB survives 'til [2014], it would receive $445 million, the same as appropriated for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 but $6 million below President Obama's request.”

That figure is up from the $430 million — or less than $1.50 per person — that public media got this year. Funding for public broadcasting comes at a miniscule cost to taxpayers, and it accounts for 1/100th of 1 percent of the overall budget. Every federal dollar spent on public media is matched by six more dollars from other sources. But even this tiny investment from the federal government supports tens of thousands of jobs around the country.

Hopefully the Senate’s actions will send a message about how important public media is in a time when so many communities have less and less access to the news and information they need. The last time Congress tried to slash funds for NPR and PBS, an outpouring of protests stopped it. But as the Super Committee sets to work slashing the federal budget by $1.4 trillion, the upcoming fight promises to be even more intense.

That’s why we are going on the offense and telling the House and Senate that we won’t stand for cuts to public media. You can join us here.