KRRC Το Lose Frequency To Finances: Station To Be Online Only
According to Alexa Ross, signator for KRRC, Reed’s student-run radio station will transition from terrestrial broadcasting to online-only because of lack of funds to maintain equipment and keep the station’s frequency, 97.9 FM. Two years ago, the station nearly lost its frequency to the interests of commercial station KNRQ-FM.
Ross identified rising legal costs, day-to-day maintenance of station equipment, and lack of student funds as contributing factors to the station’s decision to move permanently to an online-only format. The funds that KRRC draws from the student body are insufficient to update its aging broadcasting equipment and to continue paying its lawyers to ensure that the station complies with FCC regulations. “Because of the license we have, we would have to pay a lot of money to stay terrestrial, and the college isn’t able to afford that,” said Ross.
Currently, Ross is looking to make a senate proposal to move the station entirely online, arguing that this will protect the station from FCC fines and cut out large chunks of dead space in programming schedules. According to Ross, Kristen Holmberg, director of student activities, noted that Reed alumni might not respond well to an online KRRC. However, Ross points out that “going online is, honestly, better for the station because it will save us money and time, and will keep us from having dead space at 3 in the morning.” Both agree that KRRC must make the transition, though. Ms. Holmberg says “It would in fact be easier and cheaper because the FCC wouldn’t be involved.”
KRRC nearly lost its frequency two years ago to KNRQ-FM, a commercial station based in Aloha, OR. “Those above us on the ‘ladder’ of licenses can bump people below them,” said Holmberg. The station’s educational license makes it possible for larger stations to take its frequency if they wish. In the end, though, the station did not acquire the frequency. Ms. Ross suspects that this was due to finances.
Since the Reed Radio Club first began broadcasting at 660 KRCB-AM in October 1955, Reed College students have been on and off the air for a number of reasons related to limitations of both equipment and licensing. However, in the last decade of KRRC’s existence, the station has had to deal with these obstacles as well as the fact that Portland’s airwaves have grown more crowded over the years. As recently as 2002, the station lost its previous frequency, 104.1 FM, to KFIS-FM, a Christian radio station from Tillamook.
Though KRRC currently boasts an eclectic mixture of rap, R&B, and rock among other things, Reed’s first station focused primarily on classical music, mixing in student news, poetry readings, panel discussions, jazz, and student-led variety shows. Throughout its 50-year history, the station has produced mainstays in both Reed culture and in national radio, such as Barry Hansen ’63, better known as Dr. Demento. Moreover, the station has had its small share of near-brushes with fame, such as the live, on-campus recording of the Kinks in 1968.
Printed: 9/22/2011
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Well, there it goes. KRRC is dead.
The Dr. Demento Show has been online-only for over a year now (www.drdemento.com). I do miss the airwaves, but the show is by no means dead.
@BHansen: It’s dead Jim, officially now:
FM STATION APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSE TO COVER LICENSE CANCELLED
————————————————————–
OR BLED-20031022AAU DKRRC 66303 THE REED INSTITUTE Lic. to cover
E 97.9 MHZ PORTLAND, OR
License cancelled and callsign
deleted 11/29/2011 per Licensee’s
request – no letter sent
—–
With the continuous drama regarding multiple obscenity violations and equipment damage/theft I’m not surprised by this.
As current manager of KRRC, I can confidently state that the transition to an online format by no means signals the death of KRRC, merely its reincarnation in a more accessible form. Last year we garnered far more listeners through streaming than through actual airplay and, as an added benefit, the money saved on legal fees can be used for further improvements to the station.
There is, of course, an upside to going online only–no more worries about FCC broadcast standards. Now, is there currently somewhere I can catch this more “accessible” KRRC, or is it still relegated to SIN access?
[And Quest folks, how have you guys managed to slip it by the lawyers to go online, because when we edited we were strongly advised against it. Have you had to stick with certain standards of record? Because I feel like we got away with a lot we probably didn't want to get put online.]
I am deeply disappointed by this article – the author made no attempt to contact me before splashing my name all over the article.
I remember a time when the quest used to fact check articles before going to publication.