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KZAZ (91.7 MHz) is a non-commercial FM radio station in Bellingham, Washington. The station is owned by Washington State University. It is part of the Northwest Public Broadcasting's classical music network, also featuring some NPR news programs.

KZAZ is a Class A station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 120 watts.

History

KZAZ signed on in 1991; 34 years ago (1991). It was an independent public radio station serving Bellingham, owned by Northern Sound Public Radio. KZAZ had been delayed nearly 18 months in going on the air from its planned May 1990 launch. It faced a series of issues, one of which was the incorrect placement of its antenna on the tower.

Additionally, the new station was seeking federal grant money at the same time as more visible community organizations, such as the local United Way. Broadcasting then as now with just 120 watts to protect allocations to Canada, KZAZ maintained NPR and American Public Radio affiliations. Washington State University merged with Northern Sound Public Radio, structured as a transaction in which WSU bought KZAZ for $60,000, in 1997.

In August 1996, KZAZ had applied to build a new FM station in Mount Vernon, also at 91.7 FM, to expand its coverage area. This application would prove particularly useful for Washington State University. Also in Mount Vernon was Skagit Valley College's KSVR, then at 90.1 FM and causing co-channel interference to KNWP, the Northwest Public Radio transmitter at Port Angeles. In May 2000, Northern Sound offered to transfer the 91.7 construction permit to Skagit Valley College to move KSVR there and solve the interference problem. The original KSVR license was then transferred to Washington State and relaunched as NWPR transmitter KMWS in November 2002, at which time the KSVR intellectual unit moved to 91.7.

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for KZAZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. Radio-Locator.com/KZAZ
3. ^ Tharalson, George (March 1992). "Airwave Obstacles: New Bellingham radio station, KZAZ, struggles for visibility". Klipsun. pp. 14–15. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
4. "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 28, 1997. p. 8. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
5. "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. September 23, 1996. p. 73. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
6. "N/A KTHY-FM CP" (PDF). Radio Business Report. May 15, 2000. p. 15. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
7. "WSU's NPR Adds New Station, KMWS". Washington State University. November 25, 2002. Retrieved March 7, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• Facility details for Facility ID 49599 (KZAZ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• KZAZ in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

48°48′03″N 122°27′45″W / 48.8009°N 122.4624°W / 48.8009; -122.4624

• Northwest Public Broadcasting
• Radio stations in Washington (state)
• Classical music radio stations in the United States
• NPR member stations
• 1992 establishments in Washington (state)
• Radio stations established in 1992