KUGS
{{short description|Radio station at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KUGS
| logo = KUGS-2023-logo.png
| city = Bellingham, Washington | country = US
| branding = KUGS 89.3
| frequency = 89.3 MHz
| airdate = {{Start date|1974|01|29}}
| format = College radio
| erp = 810 watts
| haat = {{convert|137|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = A
| facility_id = 72017
| coordinates = {{coord|48|44|8.5|N|122|28|53.5|W}}
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns =
| licensing_authority = FCC
| owner = Western Washington University
| sister_stations =
| webcast = [http://player.streamguys.com/kugs/sgplayer/player.php Listen live]
| website = {{URL|https://as.wwu.edu/kugs/}}
}}
File:Kugsfm-bellingham-inside-2002.jpg
KUGS (89.3 FM) is a college radio station in Bellingham, Washington, United States, owned by Western Washington University (WWU). It is managed by WWU students and broadcasts from studios in the Viking Union on the WWU campus in Bellingham and a transmitter atop Sehome Hill.
KUGS was founded on January 29, 1974, as a 10-watt facility, upgrading in 1984 to 100 watts. It was one of the first radio stations in the United States to stream its programming online. Programming has traditionally been eclectic in nature with student DJs and staff.
History
Radio activity at the campus of what was then Western Washington College of Education and later Western Washington State College dated to the late 1930s, when a radio studio was built to accommodate a radio broadcasting class.{{cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A12565?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=ad73449ea2fbc455c508&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=2&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|work=WWCollegian|page=1|title=Equipment Arriving For Radio Station|date=June 23, 1939|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041842/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A12565?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=ad73449ea2fbc455c508&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=2&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|url-status=live}} The idea of starting an FM station was first floated in 1964, when the university approved the speech department's proposal to establish one,{{cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A13942?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=94e0aaacd82ec0925c44&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=6&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=15&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|title=FM Station Gets Okay|page=1|work=The Collegian|date=January 17, 1964|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041842/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A13942?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=94e0aaacd82ec0925c44&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=6&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=15&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|url-status=live}} but there was no space on campus to accommodate the facility.{{cite news|work=The Collegian|date=May 15, 1964|title=Old House, Maybe?: Radio Station Hits Snag—Needs Campus Studios|first=John|last=Stolpe|page=2|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A13956?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=94e0aaacd82ec0925c44&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=6&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=17&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522}} Later in the decade, a steering committee suggested launching a regional Class C radio station by 1970.{{cite news|page=3|work=Western Front|title=Radio station set for future|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14135?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=d0664e6faaacc65b1f67&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=7&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=9&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|date=May 27, 1969|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041843/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14135?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=d0664e6faaacc65b1f67&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=7&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=9&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|url-status=live}}
In 1973, proposals for a radio station advanced significantly. Speech student Steve Mellroth was elected to the Associated Students student government on a platform of starting an FM station; in the sparsely attended special election, 97 percent of students surveyed voted yes to establishing one.{{cite news|title=Student government election draws low voter turnout|page=1|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14865?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=9aa2ec2d91ff923a200d&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=9&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=2&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|work=Western Front|date=February 2, 1973|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041843/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14865?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=9aa2ec2d91ff923a200d&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=9&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=2&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|url-status=live}} Western Washington State College applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on June 22 for a new noncommercial educational station to broadcast with 10 watts from the Ridgeway Kappa dormitory; the FCC granted the application on October 5.{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/fc783d60-ec01-35bd-4c8c-fcd5ec5a9c4d|title=FCC History Cards for KUGS|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041905/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/fc783d60-ec01-35bd-4c8c-fcd5ec5a9c4d|url-status=live}} Studios would be located in an office once used as storage in the Ridgeway dining hall, with a mix of music and taped educational programs.{{cite news|page=3|date=August 2, 1973|title=Student FM radio station possible by Thanksgiving|first=Wendy|last=Marcus|work=Western Front|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14895?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=9aa2ec2d91ff923a200d&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=9&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=10&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041845/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14895?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=9aa2ec2d91ff923a200d&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=9&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=10&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|url-status=live}} Once the permit was obtained, work began with the goal of starting by Thanksgiving,{{cite news|date=October 12, 1973|title=Nov. 23 predicted as FM starting date|page=5|work=Western Front|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14900?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=9aa2ec2d91ff923a200d&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=9&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=12&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041844/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14900?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=9aa2ec2d91ff923a200d&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=9&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=12&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|url-status=live}} but delays in receiving equipment and being assigned call letters held up completion.{{Cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14903?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=9aa2ec2d91ff923a200d&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=9&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=13&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|title=FM station delayed until Winter quarter|work=Western Front|page=3|date=October 26, 1973|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041908/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14903?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=9aa2ec2d91ff923a200d&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=9&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=13&search=%2522radio%2520station%2522|url-status=live}}
KUGS went on the air on January 29, 1974. The call sign was assigned after other designations requested by Western were found to not be available.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108780636/colleges-fm-station-goes-on-the-air/|date=January 30, 1974|page=2|title=College's FM station goes on the air|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 3, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041844/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108780636/colleges-fm-station-goes-on-the-air/|url-status=live}} By year's end, some 40 students comprised the KUGS staff, most of them journalism students interested in radio.{{cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14955?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=8534a4e100035b8f72db&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=1&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0&search=KUGS|title=KUGS makes waves after clearing static|page=1|work=Western Front|date=February 1, 1974|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041844/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14955?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=8534a4e100035b8f72db&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=1&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0&search=KUGS|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14955?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=8534a4e100035b8f72db&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=1&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0&search=KUGS|page=5|title=Variety of music, good news emphasized on student radio|first=Puckel|last=Hagberg|work=Western Front|date=October 18, 1974|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041844/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A14955?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=8534a4e100035b8f72db&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=1&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0&search=KUGS|url-status=live}} Studios moved from Ridgeway to the Viking Union in 1979.{{cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A16387?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=7e75a23486049b9bd5cf&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0&search=%2522KUGS%2522%2520%2522transmitter%2522|work=The Western Front|date=January 15, 1999|first=Sara|last=Ballenger|title=KUGS to celebrate 25th birthday|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041845/https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A16387?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=7e75a23486049b9bd5cf&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0&search=%2522KUGS%2522%2520%2522transmitter%2522|url-status=live}}
Changes in FCC regulations led to a power increase as the commission pressured 10-watt educational stations to upgrade to at least 100 watts or face being bumped off their frequencies in the future. In December 1979, the Western Washington University board of trustees applied to increase power.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799292/10-watts-to-100-watts-student-station/|date=January 12, 1980|page=1C|first=Teresa|last=Allen|title=10 watts to 100 watts: Student station may get boost|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041845/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799292/10-watts-to-100-watts-student-station/|url-status=live}} The road was eventually cleared for the upgrade in 1983,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799396/kugs-to-get-boost/|date=March 26, 1983|page=8A|title=KUGS to get boost|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 4, 2022}} in part because a proposed radio station across the border in Chilliwack, British Columbia, that would have interfered with KUGS ran out of money and remained unbuilt.{{r|WF840127}} The upgrade became reality on January 18, 1984.{{cite news|page=3|work=Western Front|date=January 27, 1984|title=KUGS gets 100 watts|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A15515?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=ab933f3885db77cf6ce3&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=9}}
In the late 1980s, the station also began broadcasting university athletic events,{{Cite news|page=4|first=Henry|last=Schwarz|title=KUGS covers games|work=Western Front|date=January 29, 1988|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A15742?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=ab933f3885db77cf6ce3&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0}} complementing an eclectic lineup of specialty shows and local news.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108798921/campus-radio-station-offers-ragtime-to-h/|date=November 12, 1986|page=4C|title=Campus radio station offers ragtime to heavy metal|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041953/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108798921/campus-radio-station-offers-ragtime-to/|url-status=live}} In 1992, an attempt was made to install a more consistent rock format during daytime hours, but a community group opposed the change. Vandalism that August left the station unable to broadcast, but the groups opposed to the change denied any connection with the damage.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108798983/vandals-stop-the-music-at-kugs-radio/|date=August 21, 1992|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799007/ B2]|first=Jim|last=Donaldson|title=Vandals stop the music at KUGS radio|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 2, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041953/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108798983/vandals-stop-the-music-at-kugs-radio/|url-status=live}}
In 1988, the transmitter was moved to Sehome Hill and the station began broadcasting in stereo.{{cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A15788?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=7e75a23486049b9bd5cf&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=4&search=%2522KUGS%2522%2520%2522transmitter%2522|title=KUGS to switch on stereo in December|first=Sarita|last=Christensen|page=1|work=The Western Front|date=November 1, 1988}} This marked a move away from the original Ridgeway Kappa site, which created interference for telephone and television signals in the dormitory. A former KUGS station manager and longtime WWU employee remarked in 2003, "I like to say people had to wear tin foil on their heads to be able to talk on the phone."{{cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A17155?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=fffcd8c4daf2a52f6e97&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=6&search=%2522KUGS%2522%2520%2522Sehome%2520Hill%2522|work=The Western Front|page=4|date=July 29, 2003|title=Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the music: Talk of KUGS's 30th anniversary inspires reflection|first=Kim|last=Shelly}} This issue was mitigated when KUGS's signal was included on the local cable system for the first time in February 1996, due, in part, to pressure placed by station supporters on the Bellingham city council.{{cite news|work=The Western Front|page=3|title=KUGS now on cable 24 hours|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A16218?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=7e75a23486049b9bd5cf&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=3&search=%2522KUGS%2522%2520%2522transmitter%2522|date=February 9, 1996}}
KUGS celebrated its 21st anniversary in 1995, and repeated the anniversary for several more years thereafter by popular demand.{{r|WF030729}} It had also matured considerably, becoming one of two "core reporters" to College Music Journal (alongside KCMU at the University of Washington), beginning 24-hour broadcasting in 1995,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799132/constant-kugs-24-hour-broadcast-keeps/|date=January 14, 1996|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799112/kugs/ C2]|first=Mike|last=McQuaide|title=Constant KUGS: 24-hour broadcast keeps station up all night|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041955/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799132/constant-kugs-24-hour-broadcast-keeps/|url-status=live}} and simultaneously becoming the second station in the United States to webcast its programming.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799071/on-line-link-amplifies-kugs-radio/|date=January 14, 1996|page=C2|first=Mike|last=McQuaide|title=On-line link amplifies KUGS radio worldwide|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041955/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799071/on-line-link-amplifies-kugs-radio/|url-status=live}} (It temporarily paused streaming in 2002 due to changes in copyright royalty regulations but resumed in 2006.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108892978/web-radio-unplugged-copyright-rules/|date=June 13, 2002|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108892978/web-radio-unplugged-copyright-rules/ C4]|first=Tony|last=Stasiek|title=Web radio unplugged: Copyright rules chase KUGS off the Internet|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041955/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108892978/web-radio-unplugged-copyright-rules/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A17050?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=8b93a5caaf85ad86341c&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=1&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=19&search=%2522KUGS%2522%2520%2522transmitter%2522|pages=1, 5|date=April 4, 2006|work=The Western Front|first=Shawn|last=Query|title=KUGS DJs spin on Web}}) Despite that, the Sehome Hill transmitter had its drawback: the tower was on the city side of the hill, blocking many WWU dormitories from clear reception.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799094/cable-connection-could-expand-campus/|date=January 14, 1996|page=C2|first=Mike|last=McQuaide|title=Cable connection could expand campus radio's turf|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041955/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799094/cable-connection-could-expand-campus/|url-status=live}} Pacifica Radio Network programming, such as Democracy Now!, was added to the schedule in 1997.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799177/in-service-to-the-community-arts-award/|date=April 13, 1998|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799182/arts/ C3]|first=Mike|last=McQuaide|title=In service to the community: Arts award winners give of time, talent|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904041955/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108799177/in-service-to-the-community-arts-award/|url-status=live}}
A potential interference problem arose in the late 1990s between KUGS and a proposed translator for KPLU-FM that would operate on 89.3 MHz at Port Angeles, southwest across the Salish Sea. KPLU's owner, Pacific Lutheran University, filed the proposal in 1998 because its existing translator there was endangered by a new CBC radio station, CBCV-FM, in Victoria, British Columbia.{{Cite news|url=https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A16383?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=7e75a23486049b9bd5cf&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=9&search=%2522KUGS%2522%2520%2522transmitter%2522|title=KUGS signal area in danger|first=Colin E.|last=Howser|date=November 24, 1998|pages=1, 5|work=The Western Front}} A similar situation involving a transmitter for Northwest Public Radio at Port Angeles had severely reduced the coverage area of KSVR at Skagit Valley College. Associated Students allotted $15,000 for an engineering consultant to help KUGS work with Pacific Lutheran on reducing interference.{{r|WF981124}} KUGS also filed for a power upgrade to 710 watts, and the Educational Media Foundation proposed a new station at Sequim, near Port Angeles. The proposals were addressed in 2003 as part of a larger series of settlement agreements made two years earlier involving Pacific Lutheran and the Educational Media Foundation; the latter withdrew its application, while KPLU and KUGS won their proposed facilities.{{Cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=32369|date=August 7, 2003|title=In re: MX Group 980811|first=Peter|last=Doyle|website=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904042028/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=32369|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.kugs.org/ KUGS 89.3]
- {{FM station data|72017|KUGS}}
{{Northern Washington Radio}}
{{Washington college radio}}
{{Bellingham}}
{{coord|48.7362|N|122.4810|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}
Category:1974 establishments in Washington (state)