Another group of public radio stations will receive federal funding to upgrade their emergency alerting capabilities.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced 89.3 KVPR(FM) in Fresno, Calif., 91.3 WQLN(FM) in Erie, Pa., and 90.7 KRCL(FM) in Salt Lake City, Utah, will receive up to $587,704 as part of the Next Generation Warning System grant program. Funded by FEMA, CPB is currently allocating $40 million in grants to eligible broadcasters.
So far, CPB has awarded grants to 38 public media stations in 21 states as part of the first round of funding approved by Congress for Fiscal Year 2022.
KVPR is owned by White Ash Broadcasting and is simulcast on 89.1 KPRX(FM) in Bakersfield, Calif. The pair of stations serves most of the San Joaquin Valley. They’re being allocated up to $38,607 to build an auxiliary transmitter site, according to a CPB release.
Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania owns WQLN and five FM translators in northwest Pennsylvania and adjacent areas of western New York. The network is receiving up to $87,059 to replace aging equipment. This includes upgrading its translator site monitoring so each station can receive WQLN’s primary signal in HD.
KRCL in Salt Lake City is owned by Listeners Community Radio of Utah and operates a booster and FM translator in nearby Park City. The station is receiving up to $462,038 to upgrade both its analog and HD transmitter, according to the release. This will extend its emergency alerting capability to a broader, more rural coverage area.
CPB has received approximately 170 station applications for the second round of NGWS funding, totaling requests for over $109 million. Congress approved $56 million in FY 2023 for the second round. Following congress approval, CPB will also administer a third round of funding for up to $40 million in FY 2024.
“FEMA is committed to enhancing community resilience by quickly disseminating emergency communications through various integrated channels,” said Manny Centeno, Director of FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
