The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a)
It is the policy of this state to support and encourage the provision of a high-quality educational, cultural, and public affairs program service designed to meet the needs of the citizens of this state and its various localities.
(b)
It is the policy of this state that in so supporting and encouraging such a program service, all decisions affecting the content and scheduling of such service are the sole responsibility of each licensee and shall be free from improper interference.
(c)
Existing public broadcasting stations represent a valuable public resource, the facilities, skills, and talent of which should be utilized to the maximum feasible extent in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.
(d)
Minority-controlled public radio stations in California serve their respective communities as unique information resources providing news, information and diversity of programing and viewpoints, including bilingual and cultural services, that enrich the lives of all Californians.
(e)
Minority-controlled public radio stations in California serve their respective communities as educational resources providing training and employment opportunities for those who would otherwise not have access to public broadcasting.
(f)
Minority-controlled public radio stations in California serve many of the specialized needs of minority and low-income listener audiences who are less affluent than the listener audiences of other public radio stations and, therefore, unable to financially support said minority-controlled public radio stations.
(g)
The continued growth and development of minority-controlled public radio stations as vital parts of the state’s public broadcasting system is in the best interests of all Californians.