NPR is not a public broadcaster in the sense of other nation's public broadcasters.
It was founded, initially, with funding from congress, as an independent, non-profit broadcaster. Currently, NPR receives very little to no funding from the Government. Something like 2% of NPR's funding comes from state, local, and national government. Though individual stations may receive radically varying amounts of government funding.
It is Public in the sense that it serves the public interest and is funded by listeners.
It was founded, initially, with funding from congress, as an independent, non-profit broadcaster. Currently, NPR receives very little to no funding from the Government. Something like 2% of NPR's funding comes from state, local, and national government. Though individual stations may receive radically varying amounts of government funding.
It is Public in the sense that it serves the public interest and is funded by listeners.