University of Oklahoma public radio station KGOU is moving down the radio dial to 97.9 FM in the Ada area, beginning on Monday, June 2. KGOU has been broadcasting in Ada at 98.1 FM from a 250-watt translator station that signed on the air last September.
The change in frequency is necessary because of impending changes by a commercial station in Oklahoma City whose primary signal reaches the Ada area. The Sports Animal, WWLS-FM in Oklahoma City, is changing its frequency from 97.9 FM to 98.1 FM. "Because the WWLS signal will overpower our translator signal in Ada, we have to move down the dial so that our Ada listeners can continue to receive service," said Karen Holp, KGOU General Manager.
All changes in frequency must have prior approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC defines a translator station as a lower-power station (maximum of 250 watts) that simultaneously rebroadcasts the signal of a primary FM station on a different frequency. Translators may not originate programming except in very limited circumstances. "Under FCC rules and regulations, translator signals receive secondary consideration in terms of signal protection. Primary broadcast stations get first consideration, and translators are assigned the frequencies that would not interfere with them," said Holp.
The change in frequency will not affect the power of KGOU's Ada translator, which will remain 250 watts. The call sign assigned by the FCC will change, however, from K251AS to K250AU.
KGOU is licensed to the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting primarily News/Talk programs during the day, with jazz, blues and world music programs during evenings and weekends. It is a National Public Radio affiliate, airing NPR newscasts along with locally-produced KGOU state and local news updates, weather and traffic reports. Weekday programming includes NPR's popular news magazines Morning Edition and All Things Considered, as well as talk programs Talk of the Nation and The Diane Rehm Show.
KGOU also airs public affairs programs produced by students at East Central University and OU. Assignment: Radio and Assignment: Radio - ECU focus on campus issues and events at the two universities, as reported by student broadcasters. The programs air every-other Sunday at noon during the academic year.
KGOU can be heard at 106.3 FM in Norman and surrounding Cleveland County, at 105.7 FM (licensed as KROU) serving Oklahoma County, and at 103.1 FM (K276ET) in Seminole, in addition to the Ada signal. The station also offers live audio streaming on the Internet at www.kgou.org, as well as online audio archives of its locally-produced news reports and public affairs programs and links to national programs.
As a public radio station, KGOU receives support from listeners to help fund its operation and building campaign. KGOU is a division of OU Outreach - College of Continuing Education-College of Liberal Studies.
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