Fort Collins Youth Broadcasting

We e-mailed EMF Broadcasting a few days ago about them moving 88.3-KLHV to 88.1, which would allow us to get on 88.5MHz if we were to broadcast from Nunn, CO.  Woohoo, if you want a map, here it is:

This is not a realistic representation, we would have to use a directional antenna to avoid 40dBu-interfering contour overlap with KGNU-Boulder.  This map represents a Class C2 station, broadcasting a 40-kilowatts from 70 meters above average terrain.  Which, in Nunn, is pretty much 70 meters above ground.  Seventy meters is about 230 feet.  Anyone want to do some climbing? ;)  Special thanks to 88.9-KRFC’s 60-dBu protected contour being sort of funky looking, we’d be able to safely broadcast from Nunn without causing interference to them.  But, at the same time, this only works if 88.3 moves to 88.1.

This is basically our last straw at getting on FM radio.  Our second option is getting some land somewhere down Poudre Canyon and building an enormous tower to get out of the canyon, which isn’t going to happen without a fight, and using a VERY directional antenna to basically cover half of Fort Collins with a city-grade contour.  And by half, we mean that the middle half of Fort Collins would be circled, and it’d be a very funky contour.  But, it’s really not worth attempting.

We’ve also contacted David Graf at Josten’s about Jostens potentially sponsoring us.  Hopefully they do, we students put lot’s of money into Jostens year after year.

As for finances, we’ve predicted that, should EMF be willing to move to 88.1, we could then purchase a 34-acre lot in Nunn at $51,000, and then there are the additional expenses of getting on FM radio, all of which come out to about $100,000.  This, of course, is a one-time expenditure.

As for Internet radio finances, we’ve predicted that this will cost about $6,000 per year, with studio space in Old Town.  :)  We’re waiting for an e-mail back from Matt to see about looking at the space in Oak Street Plaza.

Also, I’m going to be delegating the arrangement of a meeting with the board of directors, myself, and Kim, and possibly Isabel, to Elizabeth, because she talks to the board much more than I do.  I mean, people don’t even remember what they DO, so we need a meeting again.  So, board of directors…expect a call.

In bullet summary form, here’s what’s been happening:

• Elizabeth and I attempted making a business plan yesterday.  I’m not sure if it is one or not.
• Elizabeth criticized how much I write.
• We’re looking at getting studio space in the Oak Street Plaza, Professional Bldg.  149 W Oak.
• My parents donated $500.
• I contacted David Graff at Jostens to see if they’d be willing to sponsor us.
• We’ve projected our Internet-radio operating costs to be about $6,000/year.
• We’ve e-mailed EMF Broadcasting to see if they’ll negotiate their KLHV to move from 88.3 to 88.1 so we can get on 88.5.
• We’ve projected that getting on FM will cost about $100,000.  $50,000 for land, and the rest is other stuff.
• We got a MySpace.
• Our call sign has a meaning: Kangaroo Zombies from Canada; or KZ Fort Collins, whichever you like.
• KZFC will most likely be our call sign just because Grethe gave it a killer meaning.
• If KLHV does move to 88.1, we’ll operate on 88.5 broadcasting from Nunn, licensed to Fort Collins, broadcasting at 40 kilowatts from 70 meters above the ground.  Nice round numbers 🙂
• I LOVE Africa by Toto.  Haha.  And so does Lucinda.
• Grethe still wants to run her show.
• Lucinda and Bri might be running a show.
• We’re working on getting LogMeIn Rescue for people who can’t seem to get their players working.
• PayPal approved us to solicit donations.
• I’m almost done with our 501(c)(3) application.  We’ll be sending that in on Monday, most likely, along with a nice $300 check.
• We’re also looking into running a mountain translator on some frequency to cover Red Feather Lakes and Glacier View.  It might run on 88.5 as well, but we still have to figure all that out.

Form 1 is now available for filling out and getting on the air! Exciting.

Fill it out at http://listen.fcyb.org/form1 . Applications will be granted on a first-come-first-serve basis.