September 30th, 2009
City seeking volunteers for KZOS task force

STAFF REPORT

“KZOS” are the call letters for the new low power FM radio station for the city of San Marcos. The station is being primarily established for emergency communications with the public.

The City Council is seeking seven volunteers for a task force to advise the city on government programming for the new radio station. The task force will help the city develop KZOS policies for emergency communications, program development and meeting broadcast standards.

Residents who are interested in volunteering can contact the city clerk’s office at 393-8090. The form is also available online at sanmarcostx.gov. The City Council will then consider appointments at the Oct. 20 council meeting.

Ten years ago, following the 1998 flood, the city received a construction permit and license for a low-power radio station. Fire Marshall and Emergency Management Coordinator Ken Bell is overseeing the construction of facilities at an electric substation in north San Marcos.

“During the 1998 flood, San Marcos was faced with one of the biggest emergencies we have ever had,” Bell said. “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 functionally aid the city with emergency communications. He applied for the license with the FCC in 1999. The construction permit and license were obtained last spring.

The station will have the capacity to broadcast over a five-mile radius. The city council recently approved an agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for the location of the FM antenna and facility at an LCRA substation.