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KUAC braces for sixth year of budget cutsBy ! Irin GrangerEGRANGERNEWSMINER.COMAs the Dniversitv of Alaska struggles to handle a fourth consecutive year of budget cuts handed down from thestate, programs funded through the university are feeling financial strains as well. KUAC, Fairbanks' public radio station, is preparing to absorb a sixth \ear of reductions.Although the station ha'' worked to investigate all options to absorbthese cuts, includingreductions made in pastyears, this most recent0cut will come with further reductions in programming and taff. accordingto Kl’AC General Manager Keith Martin Three naff positions.which are currently full-time, will he switched to part time, Martin said. This new fiscal \ear4rbrought a 22.5 percent decrease m funding provided to the station hv theWuniversity. Thi-' translatesAlprto a loss of $172,000.“We can't sustain our level of service after losing half a million dollars since 2012, Martin said Starting in September, Kl’AC will also no longer he airing Alaska Public Radio Network programming on its FM channel Along with terminating their APRN membership, KUAC has also turnedoff its FM HD transmitter to cut down on utility spending. HD radio isused hv stations to broad-wcast audio and data using a digital signal.Further cuts will include reduced television acquisitions asshows go off air. including Doc Martin. Doctor Who, “The Red Green Show. Midsom-er Murders. Detector-ists, some British drama series and documentary specials. The station mav also need to deferwequipment replacement and maintenance, reduce some positions to part time and cancel memberships to other professional organizations.Martin s a l d t h e s ereductions will likelvwoccur throughout fiscal 2018 as the station works to adjust operations to work within ashrinking budget.“We hope to continue offering the quality educational programmingwe are known for, as best we can under these direcircumstances. Martinsaid.KUAC has received strong support from the Fairbanks community. Martin 'lt;aid However, with a decrease of 56 percent m university funding for the station over thepast six years, community fundraising can't keep up.“The cuts just continue to outpace the increasesin fundraising. Martin said “The communitvwhas been absolutely fantastic here, but they 're acommunity of 100,000and will only fundraisea certain amount and I think we’re pretty close to our peak when it comes to communitv involve-Wment.Martin said the station is currentlv brainstorm--'Wing to figure out other wavs to increase fund-raising.Content staff writer Enn Granger at 459-7544 Foikmher on Twitter:(a FDNMMitu *
Newspaper Details
Fairbanks Daily News
Fairbanks, Alaska, US
Tue, Aug 08, 2017
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Sammi B.
NA 17 Jun 2020
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