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Elko TV District denies KUNR/KNCC $87,000 request, agrees to explore streaming KNCC audio on TV subchannel
Summary
After hearing that federal funding cuts have left KNCC with a funding gap, the Elko TV District board voted to deny an $87,000 operating request and a $29,000 equipment move but approved exploring carrying KNCC's audio on a TV subchannel as a lower-cost option.
The Elko TV District board on a voice vote declined a request from public media station KUNR/KNCC for $87,000 in bridge funding and also voted not to fund a $29,000 equipment relocation to Lemuel/Lamoille Summit. The board instead approved a motion to explore carrying KNCC’s audio stream on a TV subchannel and asked staff for a proposal at the next meeting.
Brian Dugan, general manager of KUNR and KNCC, told the board the station faces a budget shortfall after recent federal rescissions and said the station is “looking for opportunities to maintain our mission,” including bridge funding to preserve local reporting. Laurie (Gilbert), KNCC’s local reporter, told the board KNCC is “the only local public radio station in the region” and described recent local reporting and student engagement that she said filled gaps in local news.
Budget committee members said they had reviewed two separate requests — ongoing annual support for Laurie’s reporting position and a one-time equipment move — and recommended against funding the recurring salary request because of the district’s limited budget. Board members voted to deny the $87,000 request (motion carried; recorded as 4 ayes, 1 nay) and to deny the $29,000 equipment relocation. The board then approved a separate motion to have staff develop a plan to stream KNCC audio as a subchannel on the district’s TV translator network.
Technical staff described the streaming option as relatively low-cost and feasible to implement from the district’s fiber/head-end equipment. Peyton, the district’s technical lead, said, “So equipment wise, I’m still working on the details” but outlined that audio could be carried as an IP stream or analog feed and injected onto a subchannel. The board specifically directed staff to return with cost estimates and an implementation timeline so members could consider a one-time grant or technical assistance instead of ongoing operational funding.
Next steps: staff will prepare a streaming-subchannel proposal, including technical specs and a one-time cost estimate, for the board’s next meeting.
