90.1 KZNK

Charter members and underwriters of 90.1 KZNK
The following individuals and businesses have signed-on as charter members and underwriters of 90.1 KZNK by providing financial support for the operation of the station. Please thank them for their support, which helps makes public radio service available to you and your community.

Explorer:
- Lon Frahm, Colby

Trailblazer:
-Woofter Construction, Colby*

Groundbreaker:
-Farm Credit of Western Kansas*

Pioneer:
- Margaret Inloes, Quinter, KS
- Nancy LePell, Colby*
- Rebekah and Tim Peterson, Monument
- Janet Wolf, Colby

Partner:
- Edward Jones, Colby*
- Farmers & Merchants Bank, Colby*
- Ken & Sheila Frahm, Colby
- Gambinos Pizza, Colby*
- Dr. Terry and Marilyn Imel, Goodland
- Kansas Farm Bureau, Lawrence*
- Western Sprinklers, Colby*
- Paul & Sharon Steele, Colby
- Vision Source, Colby*

* charter underwriters of KZNK 90.1

90.1 KZNK
New service for the tri-state region of KS, CO & NE
90.1 KZNK is on the air!90.1 KZNK is HPPR's new 90,000 watt station providing improved service in Northwest Kansas and new public radio service to previously unserved areas of Northeast Colorado and Southwest Nebraska.
We're delighted you've found 90.1 KZNK and hope you will help us build listenership and support for operating this new station. Read more about 90.1 KZNK and the ways you can help in the sections below:

  • See the coverage map
  • Spread the word
  • Explore the program schedule
  • Provide feedback
  • Become a member
  • Invest as a KZNK underwriter
  • Get the technical details
  • Read the project's history

    • Spread the word
    If you're excited to now have public radio available through 90.1 KZNK, please spread the word to family, friends and co-workers. Have them tune to 90.1 FM and give a listen (or maybe several listens, given the variety of programming). To help spread the word, click below for PDF documents that you can download, print and distribute.
  • KZNK 90.1 FM coverage map
  • Program schedule (CT) (MT)
  • Small poster (8.5" x 11")
  • HPPR regional coverage map (all stations)
    • We'd also appreciate receiving your thoughts and ideas on how to promote 90.1 KZNK in your community. Please email Barbara Blevins, HPPR's Community and Donor Relations Assistant, at hppr@hppr.org or 800-678-7444.

    90.1 KZNK is on the air!Explore HPPR's program schedule
    HPPR weekly program schedule includes the most in-depth news and information available on area radio, a variety of music genres with rich and deep traditions, including classical, jazz, folk, blues and western swing, as well as a variety of genuinely entertaining programs such a Prairie Home Companion. This programming is both produced by HPPR and acquired from leading national and international organizations, including National Public Radio, American Public Media, Public Radio International, the British Broadcasting Corporation and a variety of independent producers.

    Click here to see a detailed program schedule grid with links to individual program pages providing further information. For handy reference, download a PDF file of the schedule for either the Central Time or Mountain Time zone. Questions about HPPR's programming can be directed to Mark Haslett, interim Program Director, at programming@hppr.org or 800-678-7444.

    Provide feedback
    HPPR has always had a special relationship with its listeners. After all, we're listener supported radio and serving listeners is our sole reason for being. Let us know your thoughts on HPPR's programming and service. We're particularly interested in knowing about your reception of 90.1 KZNK. Give us a report letting us know where you're listening, the kind of radio you're using and the quality of the signal you're receiving. You can email your comments or reception report to hppr@hppr.org or call us at 800-678-7444.

    Become a member
    Improving and expanding public radio service in the tri-state area of Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska has been a major concern and priority for HPPR for many years. Realizing this objective has proven to be a major challenge, with the construction of 90.1 KZNK requiring an investment of $482,000 in federal, state of Kansas and private support, along with over three-years of staff and volunteer work. The next challenge is building ongoing support for the station.

    While providing significantly improved and expanded service to the region, operating 90.1 KZNK will costs HPPR considerably more for utilities, tower rent, insurance, maintenance and repairs. Total operating costs are estimated at $45,500 annually compared to the former expense of only $9,300 for operating the low power translator stations in Northwest Kansas. Covering these costs will require increased listenership membership support. You can easily become a member now by using HPPR's secure membership site. You may also want to consider making a major gift specifically designated for the operation of 90.1 KZNK. Visit the "make a real difference" section of our website to learn more or contact Deb Oyler, HPPR's Executive Director, at 800-678-7444 or director@hppr.org.

    Invest as a KZNK underwriter
    Another way to support the operation of 90.1 is to become a KZNK underwriter. In return for providing financial support for the operation of KZNK, a business, institution, organization or individual can receive on-air recognition. Underwriting is a high value approach to promoting your products and services to a very informed and loyal audience. It's also a good way to receive credit for supporting an important community service.

    Underwriting packages for KZNK are available at very economical rates and are a very convenient way of creating a good deal of year-round public recognition and goodwill. To learn more contact Wayne Roberts, HPPR's underwriting representative for the 90.1 KZNK coverage area at 785-639-2414 or wroberts@shptv.org.

    90.1 KZNK TransmitterTechnical details
    For those of you interested in the technical details, 90.1 KZNK operates with an effective radiated power of 90,000 watts with an antenna center of radiation at a height of 1002' above average terrain on the Smoky Hills Public TV tower south of Brewster, KS. A 30kw transmitter feeds a 5 inch transmission connecting to a 10-bay circularly polarized antenna. The transmitter is a 100% solid-state Nautel model NV30, which provides a high degree of redundancy for reliable operation.
    90.1 KZNK's programming is received by satellite from HPPR's studios in Garden City, KS and Amarillo, TX. The station is also equipped with a complete on-site audio automation system, which allows for localized IDs, community announcements and underwriting credits. This local programming can be updated and scheduled remotely via internet connection.

    If you have any questions about 90.1 KZNK's technical operations, feel free to email Chuck Springer, HPPR's Chief Engineer, at engineer@hppr.org or call him at 800-678-7444.

    Project history
    High Plains Public Radio has served Northwest Kansas since 1983 when a 10 watt translator station began operation in Colby. Through the 1980's additional translators were constructed in various communities. Through this service HPPR developed a strong and loyal audience and many special supporters of public radio for their community. This was in spite of several limitations to the service HPPR was able to provide the area.
    • Limited coverage. HPPR's coverage in Northwest Kansas was limited to within a few mile radius of the five communities where it operated low power translator station (Colby, Goodland, Sharon Springs, Atwood and St. Francis) as well as some coverage to the east by KZNA-FM in Hill City. This left large areas and many miles of roads and highways where coverage was weak or non-existent. Moreover, it is necessary to search and switch between six different frequencies to hear HPPR in the region.
    • Unprotected service. In addition to operating at very low power, HPPR’s translator stations were classified as "secondary" service by the Federal Communications Commission and could have been required to shut down if any new FM station were authorized on or near their dial locations. When constructed in the mid-1980's there was little threat of such pre-emption but the rise of large, nationally based organizations creating new non-public radio networks has made the threat real, even in very rural areas.
    • Lack of localized programming. As HPPR enlarged its service area across four states its ability to offer more localized service became more limited. For example, announcements promoting cultural, artistic, educational and civic events and organizations in Northwest Kansas had to compete with those from other more populous parts of HPPR's service area. Similarly, listening in Northwest Kansas was interrupted by severe weather warnings for areas over three hundred miles away (and vice versa).
    Recognizing these limitations, HPPR made improving service to Northwest Kansas and extendingservice to completely unserved areas of Northeast Colorado and Southwest Nebraska a high priority in its 2004 strategic plan for service improvements. In 2007 two developments added both urgency and opportunity for pursuing these plans and addressing the longstanding limitations to HPPR's service to Northwest Kansas.

    The first development was action by the FCC to open a "window" for applications for new noncommercial FM stations for the first time in seven years. Nationwide, a land-rush of applications was expected and investigations revealed that many applications might be filed in Northwest Kansas, mainly by nationally-based, non-public radio organization as well as speculators. Without pre-emptive action, it was highly likely that HPPR's existing translator stations would be forced off the air by new stations authorized as a result of this filing window.
    The second development was the construction of a new tall tower south of Brewster by Smoky Hills Public Television as part of its digital conversion. This tower, funded with special USDA grant support, was cooperatively planned and engineered to also accommodate an antenna for a high power FM station for HPPR. This made it economically feasible for HPPR to consider constructing a single high power station to serve Northwest Kansas. It also meant that it could make an application to the FCC during its filing window that would have a better chance of winning against competing applications. (The FCC's selection criteria gave preference to applications providing a wider service area through higher power and antenna height.)

    In the fall of 2007 HPPR applied for a new 90,000 watt station with an antenna about 1,000' high on the SHPTV tower. Fortunately, this application was successful in trumping competing applications and the FCC issued HPPR a permit to construct the station in 2008. Later that year and through 2009 capital funds were raised to construct the station, including a $314,375 grant from the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program along with matching funds and support from the State of Kansas and private individuals. Equipment contracts were bid and award in late 2009 and construction began in early 2010.

    While constructing the equipment building, installing the transmitter, hanging the antenna and other related tasks were familiar work for HPPR, other aspects of getting KZNK on the air presented new challenges. 90.1 KZNK is HPPR's first station to have the capability to originate its own programming, separate from what is heard on the rest of the HPPR network of stations. This capability required installing and programming a complete on-site computer automation system, synchronizing and securing the system with the rest of HPPR's facilities, and making many micro adjustments in the minute-by-minute program logs. This has been time consuming and will require ongoing tweaking during KZNK's initial months of operation.

    If you have any questions about the development of KZNK or HPPR's overall service improvement strategy, please feel free to contact Deborah Oyler, Executive Director at 800-678-7444 and director@hppr.org or Quentin Hope, HPPR board member, at quentin@hope.name.