KIAL no longer?

VICTORIA BARBER

March 13, 2008 at 1:25PM AKST

KIAL radio announced last week that it would make the leap from AM 1450 to FM 89.7 as early as this summer, after an approval from the Federal Communications Commission.

The switch will give the station greater signal power and perhaps bring about a name change for the station as well.

KIAL currently broadcasts at 50 watts from a long-wire type of antenna, one of the few stations in the nation to operate in such a way. After the changeover, KIAL will be at FM 89.7 and operate at 1,000 watts.

Lauren Adams, Unalaska Community Broadcasting general manager, said that change would give the station a much-needed boost in signal power.

"Our low signal strength means that residents who work in metal buildings can’t hear our station at their desks," said Adams in an e-mail.

She noted that KIAL also fades out on the drive to Summer Bay, parts of the valley, Captain’s Bay and other locations on the island.

"We expect that, once the station is up and running, we will broadcast to all of Unalaska Bay – from Cape Cheerful to Priest Rock," she said.

The UCB board of directors applied for an AM construction permit under previous general manager Michael Edenfield. However, the project fell through due to lack of suitable real estate.

Since then, board directed its efforts towards constructing a new FM station.

"This is an extremely cost effective option – we can use our existing FM tower and transmitter shack on Haystack Hill," Adams said.

UCB applied for FM construction permit last October and received the go-ahead in mid-February.

UCB has three years to construct the station, until Feb. 8, 2011, but Adams said that she expects to install equipment as soon as this summer.

In preparation for the new digital FM transmitter, UCB has received a grant from Alaska Public Broadcasting, which Adams said would cover a modest studio upgrade to make the station "digital ready."

Also, an engineer is on contract to complete the project in April.

With the change in frequency, UCB has the option of changing KIAL’s name if it acts within a month. Adams said that as of its February board meeting, the top three options are KUCB, KUNL or keeping KIAL.

"Try saying KIAL a few times," Adams said. "It’s a bit of a tongue twister."

Unalaska resident Jaime Robinson agrees.

"Those diphthongs just do not work," Robinson said. "And ‘kial on the dial’? Come on."

Henrietta Callewaert had a slightly different take on the switch.

"Those KIAL T-shirts and mugs will become collectors’ items I suppose," Callewaert said. "Otherwise, I don’t think it’s going to make a difference. It’s the local station and people are going to find it."

Victoria Barber can be reached at (907) 342-2424 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 424.