KRUA is throwing a party to celebrate its “Sweet 16!”

By: Staff Mar 24, 2008

UAA’s radio station is growing up

ANCHORAGE, AK – On Friday, March 28, come share the excitement with UAA’s professional, student-run radio station KRUA The Edge 88.1 FM as they reminisce about 16 years of success.

KRUA began transmitting in the spring of 1987 as KMPS. At that time they borrowed a small transmitter from Augie Hiebert of Northern Television, Inc. The station worked on a small budget and KMPS was a carrier current station. The signal traveled through telephone lines and could only be heard in specifically targeted places on campus.

During the school year of 1989-90, actual proceedings began to create an FM station at UAA. After meetings with the Journalism and Public Communications Department, local FCC offices, and the Anchorage Associated Broadcasters, Inc., documentation to create a non-commercial, educational station began.

In 1991, KMPS received the approval to move forward with the construction of a tower site for the young station, and 88.1-megahertz was assigned as its frequency. On February 14, 1992, at approximately 5 p.m., KRUA’s weak signal was suddenly being heard on the Hillside, in Turnagain and around the Anchorage area. REM’s "It’s the End of the World as We Know It” was the first song Anchorage listeners heard from KRUA.

As KRUA continues to evolve, one element is constant: KRUA volunteers. Volunteers are a valuable part of KRUA and continue to make KRUA a great station, and an excellent place to work and learn.

So please join the festivities in the UAA Professional Studies Building where everything will be broadcast live as it happens. Enjoy cake and other refreshments while listening to the D.J. and live band. This anniversary event will highlight the best history of the station and illustrate the opportunities available at KRUA as well as exhibit the classic KRUA live entertainment. There will also be tours of the station and a chance to record your voice for a KRUA station I.D. Please join the party from 4-7 p.m.

For more information call 786-6801 or e-mail aykrua2@uaa.alaska.edu.