Hide Article Text (OCR)
College, commercial stations propose frequency swapBy PATRICIA JONESStaff WriterStudent radio station KSUA and Borealis Broadcasting have put together a deal to trade frequencies, ultimately adding another FM radio station to the Fairbanks market.The proposal, pending Federal Communications Commission approval, has KSUA giving up its frequency at 103.9 FM, part of the commercial broadcasting band, for a frequency at 91.5 in the non-commercial section of FM airwaves.The license for the 91.5 frequency is held by a broadcasting group associated with Lighthouse Christian Center. The station has not operated for several years, howeverBorealis Broadcasting, owner of KWLF-FM and KFAR-AM, also owns an option to purchase the 91.5 FM band from Lighthouse and has negotiated the frequency swap with KSUA, said Borealis President Terry Walley.If the proposal clears the FCC, KSUA will begin airing on 91.5 and Borealis will start a new broadcasting station on 103.9. Walley expects the swap to occur as early as next January.“This will put another commercial station back in the market that s been kind of dead,” Walley said. “It’s an opportunity to bring back an FM band that shouldn t betied up by a non-profit station when someone like myself could be making money with it.’’Swapping spots on the FM dial will give the struggling student station newer and mon* stable transmitting equipment, as well as another source of cash, said KSUA chief engineer Tovan Adams.“The equipment we have now is not holding up too well,” Adams said, “This will make us more reliable. ”1'he new antenna and transmitter KSUA will receive is valued at about $26,000, Walley said. The student station will also have first pick of the broadcasting equipment. formerly used by the Lighthouse station“The bottom line is that the university is not putting any money into this, WalleySaid.Legal fees for the financial deal and the FCC approval process are being taken care of by Borealis, Walley said. In addition, KSUA will receive 10 monthly payments of $1,000 each once the frequency swap isompleted.That cash will help the student station, which had a $26,000 budget cut from last year’s $109,000 funding, said KSUA generalmanager Eric Veley.“We re hurting already, so this is coming at opportune time,” Veley saidStudent programmers are talking aboutusing the financial crunch as a way to let their audience know about the frequency swap,Veley -.(id“We’re looking at humorous promotions, like our budget was cut so much, we re not able to afford to broadcast at 104—we have to go to a frequency with a smaller number, Veley saidBroadcasters have already mentioned the frequency swap on the air at KSUA, Veley said, beginning to let listeners know that one day the eclectic station will soon have a new place on the FM dial.“We don’1 now the format of the new Station that Borealis is bringing up,’ Velev said “But if people turn on the radio and hear country music they should check 91.5 to see if that station is alive ”Walley said he hadn’t decided what type of programs will be aired on the new station.“If 1 programmed a station for what I like, at age 32, it would be an alternative rock station,” WTalley said But to make money with that, you re probably not.” KSUA’s identity may change somewhat during the frequency swap, Veley said“Another advantage is being able to change our image in any wav we see fit. Some things we are considering,” Veley said. I really like the idea of what college radio can do because it's live and it B Fair-inks.
Newspaper Details
Fairbanks Daily News Miner
Fairbanks, Alaska, US
Sun, Aug 27, 1995
Page 25
Full Page
Clipped by
Sammi B.
NA 30 May 2020
Other Publications Near Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks Daily News Miner
Daily News Miner
Fairbanks Weekly News Miner
Fairbanks Evening News
Fairbanks Daily Times
