California State University, Stanislaus student run radio station, KCSS 91.9 FM, takes a huge leap in listening range, as its watt radius increased to 5,000 watts this week, upon approval of a new license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The radio station began in 1974 in a tiny office of the classroom building according to KCSS station manager Garrett Neeley. In the 38-year span the station has been on air, it has increased from a 10-watt radius (a wide enough range to tune in while on campus) to a 5,000-watt radius.
Neeley has no doubt that the station will reach its full power, 6,000 watts, within a week or so, once they have their equipment adjusted for the change.
The recent power increase is attracting listeners from all over the valley.
“We have gotten more callers since the new antenna, and people are sending us messages from Riverbank, Merced, Modesto and other parts of the valley that couldn’t tune us in before,” said Neely (senior, Communication Studies).
The increase in wattage and wider audience range has given the students of the radio class, JOUR 3112, a more exciting atmosphere during their broadcastings.
“When I was a first semester broadcaster, I would go a whole show without one phone call, and now we have first semester students coming in [who have had] seven calls for one show,” Neeley said.
Neeley is personally excited of the growth so that the station can continue to give airtime to the local talent of the valley, allowing their music to be heard by a wider range of audience. The station is noncommercial and covers nearly ten different genres of music, offering listeners “the valley’s true alternative.”
For more information on the CSU Stanislaus radio station, KCSS, visit kcss.net or tune in to 91.9 FM.