Yeah. CPB is a government non-profit corporation. Basically a shell to put taxpayer money into for keeping a spectrum of broadcast waves open to everyone. IIRC when TV was invented they had to update the 1934 communications act to account for TV waves. Instead of amending that act directly they passed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 which created the CPB. It was supposed to be educational but they were pretty loose on those rules. They set aside a bunch of broadcast waves because they knew the spectrum to be used for all broadcasting could grow exponentially with time. There was so much free space early on that they designated a bunch of bands for public use. Anybody could get a slot and put something on air as long as it followed FCC rules. Again it's a taxpayer operated corp, so anybody can use it if they have the means.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

i had so much fun on public access back in the day. we did some, uh, let's call it high school quality stuff. i looked it up and there are still a few stations, but if it goes for good that'll be sad. i guess youtube has taken its place.