KCMI frequency issue finally settled

Christian Media Inc. in Scottsbluff has announced that the long-running effort to be reimbursed for expenses surrounding the 2016 KCMI frequency change has been resolved. Scottsbluff-based KCMI radio recently received payment for the expenses, which totaled nearly $40,000. The costs included engineering and consulting fees, promotions, office supplies, advertising, legal fees, and licensing costs.

In 2007, Appaloosa Broadcasting Corp. petitioned the FCC for FM frequency 96.9, to be used for a station in Nunn, Colorado, as 96.9 was the only available and satisfactory frequency in the Nunn area. The Federal Communications Commission, which governs the use of public airwaves, informed Christian Media Inc. about the petition in late 2007 and eventually ordered KCMI to change.

CMI General Director Gary Almquist says, “We are extremely thankful to the Lord and relieved to have received reimbursement for the channel change expenses. The staff and volunteers at KCMI faithfully carried out their responsibilities on a daily basis, even though they were also helping to deal with this difficult situation for the past 10 years. Our board, including president Gene Broeder, was especially helpful. Supporters were also heavily involved, as we needed to cover some of the frequency change expenses for some time ourselves.

In the beginning, our board fought to keep the old 96.9 frequency because engineering studies indicated we would lose coverage area and listeners to the east, due to interference from a North Platte station also broadcasting at 97.1 fm. While KCMI radio’s coverage did lose some ground to the east, there have been reports of improved reception in other places.

Appaloosa Broadcasting owns more than two dozen radio stations, and some have compared this situation to David vs. Goliath, due to the comparative sizes of the organizations involved. While the matter was sometimes contentious, we harbor no ill will towards Appaloosa Broadcasting Corp.”

KCMI has been independently operating and carrying local and national Christian programming since 1981, and has operated at 100,000 watts since 1988. When the station changed frequencies to 97.1 in May of 2016, the station also became known as Hope Radio.