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September 29th, 2009
Council to name radio station taskforce

SUBMITTED REPORT

The San Marcos City Council is seeking seven volunteers to advise the city on government programming for a new low-powered FM radio station being established primarily for emergency communications with the public.

Residents who would like to volunteer for the task force may contact the City Clerk’s office at 393.8090 or fill out a form online at sanmarcostx.gov. The City Council will consider appointments at its Oct. 20 meeting.

“KZOS” are the assigned call letters for the new low-power station that will be located on the radio dial at FM 92.5. Ken Bell, Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator, is overseeing the construction of facilities at an electric substation in north San Marcos.

The City of San Marcos received a construction permit and license in April from the FCC after applying 10 years ago for a low-power radio license following the 1998 flood.

“During the 1998 flood, San Marcos was faced with one of the biggest emergencies we have ever had,” said Bell. “One of our primary means of communications to the public was radio — but we have no commercial radio station here and the regional nature of the crisis hampered direct communication to our residents.”

After the flood, Bell was asked to seek a low power FM radio license to help the city with emergency communications. Bell applied for the license with the FCC in 1999, receiving the construction permit and license last spring.

The station will be able to broadcast over a five-mile radius. Recently, the city council approved an agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority for the location of the FM antenna and facility at an LCRA substation.

The task force will help the city develop policies for program development, meeting broadcast standards, and emergency communications for KZOS.

— FROM THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS/MELISSA MILLECAM

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One thought on “Council to name radio station taskforce”

  1. Online streaming would be a nice supplement for those who are outside of the 5 mile radius, but still want to know what is going on, like those of us who work outside (way outside) the city.

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