KPBS engineer and SBE Chapter 36 Chairman Tony McDaid says that KRAM Borrego Springs, a station licensed for Borrego Springs, asked KPBS for permission to rebroadcast its signal. The independent organization Ram Media Foundation was given permission to do so as an independent organization outside the normal signal area of KPBS-FM San Diego. The foundation is associated with Gabriel Wisdom, a financial advisor and former on-air personality at KGB-FM and KPRI.
KRAM has Special Temporary Authority to remain silent while details are being worked out before returning to the air, reportedly in the next few weeks. KRAM (FM) is licensed with 100 W ERP on 90.5 MHz using a horizontal antenna at a height above ground of 25 feet at 730 Christmas Circle, which had previously been a Wells Fargo Bank. The station has a Construction Permit to operate at 470 W ERP at 36 feet above ground level from the same location. A story about the station’s return is at GoToBorregoSprings.com.
Since the station can rebroadcast KPBS-FM full-time, it will serve as an EAS LP2 station for other area broadcasters.
KPBS currently uses KQVO (FM) 97.7 MHz in Calexico as a satellite station serving Imperial County.
Gabriel Wisdom answered a few questions about the project:
Q: How did this project get started?
A: Long story shortened, the radio station project was initially handed to me by broker Morgan Skinner of Rockwell Media. Lots of twists and turns, then, at the finish line, Morgan died unexpectedly.
I didn’t know what to do, so I tried giving the station away to several non-profits, but no takers because it wasn’t on the air. Anyway, I spent what was needed, and now everything is coming together. We should be on-air within 2 weeks, streaming KPBS, plus we’ll include some short-form local news. The only piece of equipment yet to be installed is a new EAS system, which is being shipped to our engineer, Thomas Werner, for the install.
How much operational control do you have over KRAM?
We have 100% operational control.
What did you intend to do with the license and what got in the way?
Initially the County decided the project required a Major Use Permit, but gave us a pass when we received a small Community Grant from the local County Supervisor’s office. In the KPBS alliance, I’m excited to bring quality journalism to the isolated Borrego Valley.
Do you have a local staff there?
Yes, but minimal.
You filed a Silence STA. What led to that?
The Major Use Permit issue was almost a deal-killer due to the $100k estimated costs.
Will you attempt to have some local programming on the station?
Yes, five minutes of local news or other. [Anything more is a] work in progress.
When do you intend to sign on?
Two weeks, when the new EAS arrives, and Tony McDaid and Mark Goodman from KPBS come out.
KRAM’s antenna, transmitter, and cables were purchased from BEXT in San Diego. We tested the signal on January 9 and picked it up loud and clear everywhere in the Valley, including the drive up the mountain to about 4000 AGL. Due to the surrounding terrain, it is almost impossible to hear San Diego radio in Borrego. Now there is growing interest.