KNVC 95.1 FM begins broadcasting: Radio station hits Carson City, Douglas County airwaves

A new community radio station began broadcasting this week on 95.1 FM to a potential of 100,000 listeners in the Carson City and Carson Valley areas.

KNVC 95.1 fm is a low-power FM radio station with its studio in the historic Adams House in Carson City.  

Ten months ago, Joe McCarthy created a 501c3 nonprofit, The End of the Trail Broadcast Project, to manage and program the station on behalf of the Brewery Arts Center.  The BAC was the original applicant with the FCC and agreed to turn over the licence to McCarthy at the end of a short holding period.

The site for their antenna and transmitter is on a radio tower on Duck Hill. The coverage area includes more than 100,000 people in Washoe, Eagle and Carson Valleys. This is unprecedented coverage for a community radio station.  The full show schedule is available online at knvc.org. Listeners can access the programming online through the website and on the dial at 95.1 FM.
 
Over the last nine months, Brian Bahouth made ready to air more than 50 separate programs, 162 hours of weekly news, public affairs and a broad range of new and exciting music hosted by volunteer broadcasters.

The programs have been selected by an independent Program Advisory Committee, a committee consisting of local residents from the greater community. “We believe in community radio,” says Bahouth. “As many people as possible should be broadcasters and producers — media should be made up of many voices in conversation with one another, holding each other accountable.”
 
The weekly schedule includes shows on national and international news, health and wellness, Latino, Indigenous and African-American perspectives, gender equality, science and environmental programs,  entrepreneurship, history, faith-based shows, eclectic music and more.

"They successfully planned for slow, natural growth and incremental progress. More than half of the shows are run by women, 40 percent are hosted by Indigenous and people of color. Many of our local, volunteer broadcasters have had no previous experience working in radio,” said Joe McCarthy, the station manager and development director.

The station will also feature live broadcasts, local and syndicated arts and culture content and Spanish-language content.

KNVC’s programs embrace community engagement and localism at its core by sending its broadcasters out in the community to cover local sports, community events, political forums and cultural programs.

McCarthy says, “It’s been a long journey for the volunteers, supporters and contributors of KNVC. From FCC approval to licensing requirements and setup expenses, Bahouth and his Program Advisory Committee have achieved so much in such a short period of time." He continued, "They shopped for cost-effective, nationally syndicated programs, deployed automation and syndication to fill out the original schedule, carefully created signature programs with local voices and built a safe platform to receive and encourage newcomers by offering help, training, mentoring and clear ground rules."

Integral to KNVC’s success has been the support it has received from the Brewery Arts Center and Carson Tahoe Hospital.  McCarthy says, “We could not have launched the station without the generous support from these two wonderful community partners.  The BAC houses KNVC for free in the historic Adams House.  The BAC leases this beautiful building from Carson Tahoe Hospital for one dollar per year.  KNVC now has the ability to meet its operating expenses without incurring an onerous facilities cost.”
 
A simple example of KNVC’s community engagement is how Bahouth and his production studio volunteers developed a community calendar where local residents, businesses, organizations and schools can forward events or information to the station for on-air personalities to pass along to KNVC listeners.

KNVC is volunteer driven. It’s Volunteer Coordinator, Elaine Werlinger, asks, “We want to talk to you if you have experience in database management, websites, social media, sound and recording technology, special events and more."

Anyone with interest in helping who has the free time and supports the mission of a community voice through radio is welcome to apply.

"Community radio stations are built by both the people and businesses in the community. By working with our local communities, we’re building a station from the ground up. It’s an opportunity to learn and listen while helping to shape the station for the future,” said Werlinger.

Tune in to KNVC at 95.1 FM and visit www.KNVC.org for more information and the current programming schedule.

To make a tax-deductible donation to KNVC, click here.