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Council hears plan for low-power FM station WIPR 93.1; city staff seeks $28,000 in initial sponsorships
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Summary
Communications staff described plans for a low-power FM station (WIPR 93.1), the FCC permit timeline, a $28,000 initial fundraising target and community programming goals.
David Ballardstein of the communications department briefed the council on Feb. 25 about the city’s newly permitted low-power FM station, WIPR 93.1, describing the FCC timeline, intended programming and an initial fundraising goal of $28,000 to cover a basic build-out.
Ballardstein said the city received an FCC construction permit earlier in 2024 and must complete construction within 36 months of the permit date or risk revocation. "If we don't construct within the next, you know, from 36 months from the dates that were issued, then the FCC will revoke the license," he said, adding that the LPFM filing window opens about once every 10 years.
Ballardstein said the station will carry emergency alerts via the Emergency Alert System, local government meeting audio, community-produced programming and music, and that much of the television operation’s workflows can be adapted to produce radio content. He described a fundraising approach based on lifetime and recurring sponsorships and said the goal is to fund the station through sponsorships, not taxpayer dollars. "This will be nothing on the taxpayer," he said.
The initial minimal funding target described by Ballardstein was $28,000, which he characterized as "bare bones" to get on air without advanced features. He said in-house staff have completed field studies (avoiding a consultant cost of about $4,000) and that community members would provide much of the program content. He also said the station will support emergency-management communications and government transparency by airing local meetings.
Council members asked about outreach and youth involvement. Ballardstein said the communications team is using Facebook posts, a city newsletter with roughly 4,000 subscribers and partnerships with the high school to encourage youth apprenticeship and community-produced shows. Alderman Worman and others recommended targeting programming to draw listeners and attract sponsors.
Ballardstein said construction must be completed by April 9, 2027, and that staff would set an internal cutoff about four months before that date if fundraising lagged. He said no city tax dollars were planned to fund the build-out, and no formal council appropriation was requested at the meeting.
