KOCZ-LP
{{short description|FM radio station in Opelousas, Louisiana, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KOCZ-LP
| logo =
| area = St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
| branding = Opelousas Community Radio
| airdate = June 20, 2003
| frequency = 94.9 (MHz)
| translator =
| format = Variety/Community Radio
| erp = 72 watts
| haat = 35 meters (115 feet)
| class = L1
| coordinates =
| licensee =
| former_frequencies = 103.7 MHz (2003–2019)
| sister_stations = KIEE
| owner = Southern Development Foundation
| website = [http://www.kocz.org kocz.org]
| callsign_meaning =
| licensing_authority= FCC
}}
KOCZ-LP is a non-commercial low-power FM community radio station in Opelousas, Louisiana, United States. The station operates at a frequency of 94.9 MHz and features a mix of cajun, rhythm and blues, hip-hop, gospel and local public affairs, with a focus on the area's African-American community.{{Citation|last=Stelter|first=Brian|title=Low-Power FM Radio to Gain Space on the Dial|newspaper=New York Times|date=January 24, 2011|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/arts/25radio.html|access-date=December 5, 2018}}
KOCZ is licensed to the Southern Development Foundation, a civil rights group that provides funding and technical support to selected cooperatives and community organizations. The foundation operates a full-power (25,000 watts) FM station in nearby Lafayette, Louisiana, KIEE 88.3 FM.{{cite web|url=http://sdflafayette.org/radio-stations/|title=Radio Stations|website=sdflafayette.org|publisher=Southern Development Foundation|access-date=December 5, 2018}}
History
KOCZ-LP, which was started as part of the third community radio "barnraising" initiative of the Prometheus Radio Project, went on the air on June 20, 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.prometheusradio.org/our-third-barnraising-kocz-lp-opelousas-louisiana|title=Our Third Barnraising - KOCZ-LP in Opelousas, Louisiana|website=prometheusradio.org|publisher=Prometheus Radio Project|access-date=December 5, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/info/KOCZ-FL|title=KOCZ-LPFM 103.7 MHz|website=radio-locator.com|publisher=Radio Locator|access-date=December 5, 2018}} The station originally broadcast at 103.7 FM and received FCC approval for it current frequency, 94.9, in 2019.{{Cite web | url=https://katc.com/news/around-acadiana/st-landry-parish/2019/06/04/community-radio-station-kocz-is-broadcasting-on-a-new-frequency/ |title=Community radio station KOCZ is broadcasting on a new frequency|date=2019-06-04}}
Recognition
KOCZ has garnered national attention for the role it plays in the Opelousas community. It was the subject of a New York Times article in 2011 and was cited by FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in 2013 as an example of the unique local service low-power FM stations provide in top 50 radio markets.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2013/10/29/fcc-commissioner-rosenworcel-champions-radio-arnd-lpfm-to-the-future-of-music-summit/|title=FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel champions radio and LPFM to the Future of Music Summit|last=Riismandel|first=Paul|date=October 29, 2013|website=radiosurvivor.com|publisher=Radio Survivor|access-date=December 5, 2018}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://sdflafayette.org/ Southern Development Foundation]
{{coord missing|Louisiana}}
Category:Low-power FM radio stations in Louisiana
Category:Community radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 2003
Category:2003 establishments in Louisiana
Category:Radio stations in Louisiana
{{Louisiana-radio-station-stub}}