KRBD
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| KRBD | |
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| City of license | Ketchikan, Alaska |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Alaska Panhandle |
| Branding | KRBD |
| Slogan | Ketchikan's Public Radio |
| Frequency | 105.3 (MHz) |
| Format | Public Radio |
| ERP | 3,000 watts |
| Class | A |
| Owner | Rainbird Community Broadcasting |
| Website | www.krbd.org |
KRBD is a non-commercial radio station in Ketchikan, Alaska, broadcasting on 105.3 FM. The station airs public radio programming from the National Public Radio network, the BBC World Service, and is a member of CoastAlaska. KRBD also airs some locally originated programming.
As with many radio stations, the name is an abbreviation. In this case, RBD is short for "Rainbird," which is one of the mascots of Ketchikan. (Ketchikan averages about 160 inches of rainfall each year.)
The station's first broadcast, on May 22, 1976, opened with the song, "The Fool," by Quicksilver Messenger Service on volunteer Tom Miller's show, "Odds and Ends." At that time, the station had seven licensed volunteers, each one covering a day of the week, and each one responsible for recruiting more volunteers.
The community licensee was conceived of and built by volunteers. Not long after it went on the air, the station hired a manager/engineer. KRBD continued to grow along with the State of Alaska's oil wealth. At one point in the 1980s, the station had 10 employees and was able to send them to various training opportunities in and outside of Alaska. It's volunteer crew also grew, numbering as many as 90 in its heyday in the 1980s.
When the state's budget declined due to lower oil prices, and later due to declining oil production, so did KRBD's. By 2007, the station had about four employees and a much reduced volunteer corp. Throughout its history, volunteers have played an important role in operating the station, especially in producing its varied music programming.
[edit] External links
- KRBD official website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for KRBD
- Radio Locator information on KRBD
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for KRBD
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