If you want to go back to the medieval patronage model, that's certainly a possibility. There were good reasons for moving away from that model, though.

Surely you don’t think it could be that bad if we were to sell all of our news media to a few rich companies in what some have called an oligopoly

Based on the text of the legislation passed by the Senate, it looks like the ~$1 billion was for 2026 & 2027 fiscal years.

> (20) (A) Amounts made available for “Corporation for Public Broadcasting” for fiscal year 2026 by Public Law 118–47 are rescinded.

> (B) Amounts made available for “Corporation for Public Broadcasting” for fiscal year 2027 by Public Law 119–4 are rescinded.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4/te...

Someone could also fund it forever, with a donation large enough such that the endowment's dividends exceed yearly costs.

But no one has.