No other media source shares PBS' mission of providing no-cost, commercial-free, local service to every American community. 

For over 40 years, PBS El Paso/KCOS has been El Paso’s trusted Public Media station, dedicated to serving and enriching our community. And did you know, 85% of Americans agree that PBS stations provide excellent value to their communities? It’s no surprise—just look at what PBS El Paso brings to our borderland.

We’re a small, dedicated team of El Paso natives passionate about serving our city. For decades, we’ve been a lifeline for families, students, and schools, offering free educational programming, trusted news, and local storytelling you won’t find anywhere else. And yet, here we are—having to fight to keep it going. Public media is at risk, and stations like ours face an uncertain future.

The 85% of people who recognize PBS’s value? They know, just like you, that we’re more than a TV station—we’re a vital part of El Paso’s culture, education, and community. If you believe in what we do, stand with us. Help keep PBS El Paso free and accessible for everyone.

Our model starts locally.

• Locally Operated & Community-Driven: Local public media stations are among the last locally managed outlets, meaning PBS El Paso is dedicated to serving the community.
• Hyper-Local Content: Our series Only in El Paso highlights local voices, history, and culture—telling the stories that matter most to our community.
• Year-Round Community Events: Local PBS stations, like PBS El Paso, host free events that connect families and empower communities.
• Partnerships for Impact: We work with schools and other local organizations to support the community, provide free educational resources and expand learning opportunities citywide.
• Empowering the Community: In 2024 PBS El Paso handed out over 50,000 educational resources including 38,000 kindergarten readiness resources, school supplies, backpacks, learning materials and more!

Free, Accessible Education for All Ages

• When more than 50% of children don’t have access to formal pre-kindergarten programs, PBS KIDS helps prepare kids for success in school and in life.
• Teachers everywhere can access thousands of free, classroom-ready resources to help them create lessons for students in literacy, math, science and more.
• Educational programs are developed and tested by experts to ensure that they are truly educational and provide a safe space for children online.
• Educational entertainment for all ages to support life-long learning.

PBS is a critical lifeline for local and rural communities

• Emergency Alerts: PBS works with the FCC and FEMA to deliver timely warning communications to keep you safe 24/7.
• Reliable Resources: PBS provides necessary guidance during crises when it matters most.
• Accessible: PBS is accessible and free to everyone, including rural and remote communities—no paywalls, ever.

Would you trade the tiniest coffee for a year of PBS El Paso? Because it actually costs less than that—just $1.60 per person per year to keep public broadcasting alive. For that small amount, public media delivers huge impact:

• Unmatched educational programming that helps kids build literacy, math, and science skills in a fun, safe, and engaging way.
• Essential classroom resources—thousands of free, expert-tested lesson plans for teachers.
• A lifeline for rural and underserved communities, providing public safety alerts in partnership with the FCC and FEMA.
• Local storytelling and reliable news you won’t find anywhere else.

Despite this incredible return on investment, federal funding for public media is under threat—jeopardizing access for millions, especially in underserved communities like those in our borderland. 

If you believe in what we do, stand with PBS El Paso. Help keep public media free, accessible, and thriving for generations to come.

• Join the effort at Protect My Public Media.
• Contact your lawmakers.
• Sign up for email alerts.
• Stay informed.
• If you can, consider donating to PBS El Paso.