Radio has lost it's personal touch? I think not....

[SomeRadioGuy]

....
I got a message from a KSKO listener tonight (Fri) that just made my night and almost made me cry just a little.

"I got so homesick when I heard you on the radio . Actually I got really happy 😄 I fly home soon"

They were streaming me from out of town on their smartphone.

How touching, heartwarming and cool is that?

 

[Bongwater]

That is so cool! I've listened to KSKO from time to time and I see you as the glue that keeps not only KSKO, but McGrath itself together. So you're easy to miss.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

That is so cool! I've listened to KSKO from time to time and I see you as the glue that keeps not only KSKO, but McGrath itself together. So you're easy to miss.

In some cases, we are part of the glue that holds things together. Its alot of responsibility but its been one helluva ride so far and I've learned new things/gotten better at things i already knew

 

[secondchoice]

I hope your funding hasn't been cut.

 

[ted chittenden]

I hope your funding hasn't been cut.

I totally agree--you will *really* be missed when that happens!

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I hope your funding hasn't been cut.

I totally agree--you will *really* be missed when that happens!

UH.. have you not been paying attention, respectfully? All funding to the CPB from any government funding was cut over a month ago. That was in the form of tax money, about $3 per person.... voted to be takin away in the rescission vote about a month ago.

Thats all funding.. to every public station. Some bigger stations its 5-10-15 percent of their budget. For medium ish sized stations it can be 25 to 40 percent of their budget

For small stations its 50 percent or more

For KSKO that was 70 percent of our budget. Theres some stations in alaska its north of 85 percent of their budget

For almost every station in bush alaska, theres some level of danger.. rather dire/near immediate.. very important but they have short term reserves/savings, 6 months or so.... or breathing room 1 to 3 years

KSKO falls under the later. KIYU and KDLG falls under the earlier end of the later as I understand things.

KCHU 770 is under the rather dire immediate.. they had to dismantle their tower as it was about to fall into the water duye to erosion... and they have a FM signal on air form their STL tower at the station.

2 stations that are more dependent on CPB funding then us are owned by school districts, so i dont know about them. One thats more depending on CPB funding than us is an independent non profit.. so im nto sure where they are going.

My .. personal opinion based upon the facts as I see them... some stations no matter how dire or not things are right now.... are under threat of eventually going off .. and if that happens, its likely they wont come back.

Stations that remain will face some level of cutbacks in terms of local programming and or local news.

A big ole chunk of Alaska could be left with... almost nothing in terms of local info.

One of our government people spoke in support of public broadcasting then voted for the rescission.

Another congress critter spoke about how people have other choices, other sources (cell phone and internet...... cell? Not when its 2g!).

 

[TheBigA]

My view is the only way the finances will work for stations like yours in Alaska is for people in other parts of the state to pool their money to support a state-wide service. Typically that's what people expect government to do. But that's not what THIS government chooses to do. It's every man for himself. So my suggestion (and I would expect it's already happening) is for the more powerful stations to form a coalition to share resources and money. That won't alleviate cutbacks, they'll still happen. But the service will be retained. It's also my view that you're way to valuable a resource to the state of Alaska. I doubt every station in the state has someone as experienced as you running it. When I talk about sharing resources, I also mean sharing of personnel resources as well. I think that's the only way this will work. The people have to take the place of their government and do the right thing for the people.

It will have to happen in the other states with small populations, because they're facing the same problem, basically for the same reason. The reason the government originally set up this system was they knew the smaller states couldn't support it without federal help. Now the stations have to do the work because the government has chosen not to.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

My view is the only way the finances will work for stations like yours in Alaska is for people in other parts of the state to pool their money to support a state-wide service. Typically that's what people expect government to do. But that's not what THIS government chooses to do. It's every man for himself. So my suggestion (and I would expect it's already happening) is for the more powerful stations to form a coalition to share resources and money. That won't alleviate cutbacks, they'll still happen. But the service will be retained. It's also my view that you're way to valuable a resource to the state of Alaska. I doubt every station in the state has someone as experienced as you running it. When I talk about sharing resources, I also mean sharing of personnel resources as well. I think that's the only way this will work. The people have to take the place of their government and do the right thing for the people.

It will have to happen in the other states with small populations, because they're facing the same problem, basically for the same reason. The reason the government originally set up this system was they knew the smaller states couldn't support it without federal help. Now the stations have to do the work because the government has chosen not to.

Weve been talking about cutting back some services where we can save, pooling some resources that we arent already, sharing programming that we arent already. Several stations share programming and Coast Alaska a station services/advocacy group already provides engineering to most of the public stations in the state, and back office financial/management/traffic/billing, etc services to quite a few stations.

There are plenty of staff at other stations way better than me, but few stations running with as lean a staff with just one person as good as me (KUHB, KNSA, KIYU, KSKO) are some of the slimmest staffed stations. KIYU and KSKO only have one full timer, same with KIYU, but they have more volunteers... Im not sure anyone at KNSA is full time and KUHB might have more than one person)

The problem is raising the funds... some of us, liek KSKO dont serve enough people for listener donations to make it on our own. And pooling money .... we kinda do that with some NPR/APM programming to get a better rate.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Weve been talking about cutting back some services where we can save, pooling some resources that we arent already, sharing programming that we arent already. Several stations share programming and Coast Alaska a station services/advocacy group already provides engineering to most of the public stations in the state, and back office financial/management/traffic/billing, etc services to quite a few stations.

There are plenty of staff at other stations way better than me, but few stations running with as lean a staff with just one person as good as me (KUHB, KNSA, KIYU, KSKO) are some of the slimmest staffed stations. KIYU and KSKO only have one full timer, same with KIYU, but they have more volunteers... Im not sure anyone at KNSA is full time and KUHB might have more than one person)

The problem is raising the funds... some of us, liek KSKO dont serve enough people for listener donations to make it on our own. And pooling money .... we kinda do that with some NPR/APM programming to get a better rate.

TL;DR: Were doing everything possible to save money, find money, cut expenses, pool resources... people way way smarter and expierienced than I are putting their heads together on this.

 

[TheBigA]

The problem is raising the funds... some of us, liek KSKO dont serve enough people for listener donations to make it on our own. And pooling money .... we kinda do that with some NPR/APM programming to get a better rate.

My sense is there will never be enough funding where you are to support what you're doing. That's the problem. You need to find a way to access money outside your area. Doing it the traditional way won't work. That's why the profit making companies gave up.

Is there something you do, something you can make, that you can sell beyond your market? Maybe not on-air, maybe digitally. When I think of Alaska and public radio, I think of Tom Bodett from Homer. He somehow managed to take his experience and translate it to everyone. You need a Tom Bodett.

 

[radiofan2023]

My sense is there will never be enough funding where you are to support what you're doing. That's the problem. You need to find a way to access money outside your area. Doing it the traditional way won't work. That's why the profit making companies gave up.

Is there something you do, something you can make, that you can sell beyond your market? Maybe not on-air, maybe digitally.

Gee, they never thought of that! Why don't you look at their website:

KSKO 89.5 fm| Store

Our store lets you pick out your favorite KSKO t-shirt, mug, bag, and jacket!

www.kskopublicradio.com

 

[TheBigA]

Gee, they never thought of that! Why don't you look at their website:

They need to sell a lot of shirts and mugs to replace the federal funding.

They need a $200K idea.

Alaska

Mcgrath

KSKO

Radio Community Service Grant

$227,720

 

[radiofan2023]

They need to sell a lot of shirts and mugs to replace the federal funding.

They need a $200K idea.

Alaska

Mcgrath

KSKO

Radio Community Service Grant

$227,720

Isn't that amount just for this year? You can also buy more merchandise, individual memberships from $25-$365 and business memberships/sponsorships here:

Home | 2026 Merchandise and Memberships

ksko.square.site

I bought some shirts and stickers this year and in the past I bought a cooler bag, mug and some other stuff that has held up great! It's great quality stuff.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

My sense is there will never be enough funding where you are to support what you're doing. That's the problem. You need to find a way to access money outside your area. Doing it the traditional way won't work. That's why the profit making companies gave up.

Is there something you do, something you can make, that you can sell beyond your market? Maybe not on-air, maybe digitally. When I think of Alaska and public radio, I think of Tom Bodett from Homer. He somehow managed to take his experience and translate it to everyone. You need a Tom Bodett.

Trust me, were trying

Isn't that amount just for this year?

Yup.. thats yearly.

75 c kwh hour electricity.. $1200 for internet amongst all our sites will contribute to high expenses

 

[ted chittenden]

UH.. have you not been paying attention, respectfully? All funding to the CPB from any government funding was cut over a month ago. That was in the form of tax money, about $3 per person.... voted to be takin away in the rescission vote about a month ago.

Thats all funding.. to every public station. Some bigger stations its 5-10-15 percent of their budget. For medium ish sized stations it can be 25 to 40 percent of their budget

For small stations its 50 percent or more

For KSKO that was 70 percent of our budget. Theres some stations in alaska its north of 85 percent of their budget

For almost every station in bush alaska, theres some level of danger.. rather dire/near immediate.. very important but they have short term reserves/savings, 6 months or so.... or breathing room 1 to 3 years

KSKO falls under the later. KIYU and KDLG falls under the earlier end of the later as I understand things.

KCHU 770 is under the rather dire immediate.. they had to dismantle their tower as it was about to fall into the water duye to erosion... and they have a FM signal on air form their STL tower at the station.

2 stations that are more dependent on CPB funding then us are owned by school districts, so i dont know about them. One thats more depending on CPB funding than us is an independent non profit.. so im nto sure where they are going.

My .. personal opinion based upon the facts as I see them... some stations no matter how dire or not things are right now.... are under threat of eventually going off .. and if that happens, its likely they wont come back.

Stations that remain will face some level of cutbacks in terms of local programming and or local news.

A big ole chunk of Alaska could be left with... almost nothing in terms of local info.

One of our government people spoke in support of public broadcasting then voted for the rescission.

Another congress critter spoke about how people have other choices, other sources (cell phone and internet...... cell? Not when its 2g!).

One of the most difficult things to do in writing is to pull off sarcasm. I was, and am, well aware of your situation (ever since I began posting here) and I read Secondchoice's post as being sarcastic as well (though I can't speak for him/her)..

On another note, I am also concerned about KCHU but for another reason. The station has two full-time satellite simulcasters--one in Glennallen and one in McCarthy. There are other radio options in Glennallen (though they don't do as much local news as they are part of a religious satellite network), but McCarthy, which is located, I believe, about halfway between Valdez and Juneau, has no other radio stations, including religious translators. Losing the full-time FM service in McCarthy would mean that the only way residents will be able to hear radio of any kind will be in the evenings when they should be able to pick up Juneau, Anchorage, plus parts of Canada, on AM skip.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

One of the most difficult things to do in writing is to pull off sarcasm. I was, and am, well aware of your situation (ever since I began posting here) and I read Secondchoice's post as being sarcastic as well (though I can't speak for him/her)..

On another note, I am also concerned about KCHU but for another reason. The station has two full-time satellite simulcasters--one in Glennallen and one in McCarthy. There are other radio options in Glennallen (though they don't do as much local news as they are part of a religious satellite network), but McCarthy, which is located, I believe, about halfway between Valdez and Juneau, has no other radio stations, including religious translators. Losing the full-time FM service in McCarthy would mean that the only way residents will be able to hear radio of any kind will be in the evenings when they should be able to pick up Juneau, Anchorage, plus parts of Canada, on AM skip.

Its a little bit of a touchy subject because those who are against it are clueless about it up here.

KCAM in Glenallen is locally based and had 4-5 hours a day of local programming.

 

[secondchoice]

One of the most difficult things to do in writing is to pull off sarcasm. I was, and am, well aware of your situation (ever since I began posting here) and I read Secondchoice's post as being sarcastic as well (though I can't speak for him/her)..

You certainly shouldn't try to label posts as sarcasm . If mine post was offensive or sarcastic:

I AM SORRY

I assumed and hoped something was or could be worked out. One of the things the current administration tries is "claw back" of funding already approved by Congress. He is still in Alaska, so I was hoping something had or would be worked out. At least they didn't claw back his funding or he would be unemployed now.

 

[radiofan2023]

You certainly shouldn't try to label posts as sarcasm . If mine post was offensive or sarcastic:

I AM SORRY

I assumed and hoped something was or could be worked out. One of the things the current administration tries is "claw back" of funding already approved by Congress. He is still in Alaska, so I was hoping something had or would be worked out. At least they didn't claw back his funding or he would be unemployed now.

Funding has been eliminated for EVERY station that gets funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as a result of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding being clawed back by Congress.

It's not like an IRS refund - they don't instantly deposit the money in CPB's bank account and it wasn't instantly pulled out of CPB's bank account after Congress voted to revoke the appropriation. It was appropriated on paper. Then Congress voted to revoke it, so they're not going to give it to CPB now.

If you (whoever reads this) think Paul's station deserves funding, then you (whoever reads this) need to put your money where your mouth is and buy something from the station's website. So far I think I'm the only one in this thread who's said they did.

 

[ted chittenden]

You certainly shouldn't try to label posts as sarcasm . If mine post was offensive or sarcastic:

I AM SORRY

I assumed and hoped something was or could be worked out. One of the things the current administration tries is "claw back" of funding already approved by Congress. He is still in Alaska, so I was hoping something had or would be worked out. At least they didn't claw back his funding or he would be unemployed now.

Has it not occurred to you that the clawing back of CPB funds is an even greater long-term problem than it is a short term one? SomeRadioGuy has indicated in other threads that he may be able to hold out for six months to a year in the current situation but probably not more than that. And I expect the long-term consequences of the CPB cuts will not be felt right now but will slowly come into play as we go forward year by year. And, unless something at the Federal leadership level drastically changes, do *not* expect that money to be coming back to public radio any time soon!

 

[ted chittenden]

Its a little bit of a touchy subject because those who are against it are clueless about it up here.

KCAM in Glenallen is locally based and had 4-5 hours a day of local programming.

Here's a thought concerning KCHU. I see that Valdez also has a commercial operator, New Wave Communications, with an AM/FM combo. What I'm wondering (and I don't know if this would be in violation of current law) is if New Wave Communications would be interested in purchasing the station at 770 kHz with a callsign change and moving the old 770 tower (again assuming the FCC would agree to this) to their transmitter site and split the country and talk programming now heard on 1230 kHz to two separate formats, one on 770 and the other on 1230. That 770 frequency has quite a bit of coverage in Alaska, especially at night, and I wonder if the commercial broadcaster might be interested in that.