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Help us reach our goal of buying 107.1!
Engineer Michael Brown setting up the 107.1 translator in 2014.
A professional tower climber dangles off of the Stonehenge tower to make an emergency repair to 107.1 in 2022. Many stations are located on Stonehenge! You pay rent based on the specific tower you select and how high your broadcast equipment is. The higher up, the better your reach, the more you pay. Height is, however, also regulated by the FCC, so you can't just pay your way to the top, you have to get the upgrade approved.
This tower is sometimes also referred to as KGON tower, after the commercial station at the top of with a nearly 100,000 watt broadcast. (We're under 100....so...that's fun...).
Key Facts:
Key Facts:
- 107.1 is a translator. Some call these repeaters. Legally, it can't originate programming, and is reliant on 91.1 FM. Translators have a maximum wattage of 250 watts.
- We already pay for all costs of operating 107.1, as well as quarterly rental fees to MetroEast. Owning the signal would be inherently cheaper.
- Engineering Changes can be made to 107.1, including power ones, after the license transfer, but they are not required to make said transfer.
- If we don't buy 107.1, we won't operate it, shrinking our signal reach down to just 91.1 FM. Nothing will immediately change drastically in the day to day listening experience if we do buy 107.1, although it might in the future.
- A specific type of attorney is necessary for FCC license transfers. There's a lot of paperwork, and several unknowns that leave the end price unknown. We've set an allowance of up to $15,000, which would play out after the campaign ends. If we don't end up needing the entire allowance, we'll use remaining funds towards related capital purchases for FM signal upgrades.
- If we can raise more than our initial goal, we can unlock additional upgrades to 107.1 or other operational upgrades. Options include a new FM Transmitter (~5k), an HD Translator (~17k), New Boards for Our Studios (~50k), or a secret other project happening in 2025 (~25k).
107.1's Possible Upgrades with Ownership
107.1's Possible Upgrades with Ownership
In the longer term, changes could be made to its engineering and equipment could be upgraded. Some examples include:
A New FM transmitter (est. cost: $5,000) which could clear up some noise floor on the 107.1 broadcast
Purchasing an HD Translator (est. cost: $17,000) which could allow for increased power to 107.1 from 44 watts to 99 watts and allow for growth opportunities in multi-channel programming.
Other Engineering Modifications: The signal could also have its engineering changed in some way, by moving its location or getting it higher up on a tower for example, to get it closer or to the maximum translator power of 250 watts.
Once we have full control, we have the power to also reduce our costs further, but that's not something that makes financial sense to explore prior to ownership. For example, that could include something such as moving the signal, which we did with 91.1 in 2022. At 91.1's prior location, we were paying a service provider and landlord (who were our only options respectively) $1,900 per month for signal service and rent. That was becoming cost prohibitive, and the signal reception was hurt badly by overgrown trees in the area that of course hadn't been there when it was first affixed, as well as said service provider essentially providing no service and ignoring time-sensitive service tickets for several days at a time. Because we own that signal, we were able to move it to another part of town, make the signal sound better than it did before, and now pay $355 per month.
Our Original Signal: 91.1 FM
Our Original Signal: 91.1 FM
91.1 FM is a rare Class D license, originating from KRRC Reed College. Those aren't even available anymore outside of Alaska (why they have them is above our pay grade). The current equivalent of a Class D license in terms of coverage area would be a Low-Power FM (aka LPFMs). While Class D's were allowed to increase power when the license type was retired, KRRC did not do so. And Portland's airwaves are just, full. We cannot apply to build something bigger, the FCC won't grant anything but new LPFMs in Portland.
91.1 FM is a rare Class D license, originating from KRRC Reed College. Those aren't even available anymore outside of Alaska (why they have them is above our pay grade). The current equivalent of a Class D license in terms of coverage area would be a Low-Power FM (aka LPFMs). While Class D's were allowed to increase power when the license type was retired, KRRC did not do so. And Portland's airwaves are just, full. We cannot apply to build something bigger, the FCC won't grant anything but new LPFMs in Portland.
But, retaining that old license class has been a major win for us. LPFMs cannot legally operate multiple signals, it's part of their licensing rules. Class D's can. Translators, like 107.1, are only able to transmit programming from another signal frequency, they cannot originate their own original programming. Many folks colloquially call these repeaters, or boosters. So, we've found ourselves the needle in the haystack.
But, retaining that old license class has been a major win for us. LPFMs cannot legally operate multiple signals, it's part of their licensing rules. Class D's can. Translators, like 107.1, are only able to transmit programming from another signal frequency, they cannot originate their own original programming. Many folks colloquially call these repeaters, or boosters. So, we've found ourselves the needle in the haystack.
As of 2017, we own 91.1 FM, which originates all of our programming, so we've got a little experience with the change from leasing to owning a signal.
As of 2017, we own 91.1 FM, which originates all of our programming, so we've got a little experience with the change from leasing to owning a signal.
91.1 FM will never be comparable to 107.1 though.
91.1 FM will never be comparable to 107.1 though.
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