Bellingham’s KRME 102.3 FM begins campaign for a new home
By Josh Hughes
KMRE needs some help.
A non-commercial, community based low power radio station currently based out of the Spark Museum, KMRE 102.3 FM has been broadcasting the greater Bellingham area since 2005.
Built around informational programs centered on the community, including entertainment and education shows such as “Spark Science” and “Up Close And Personal”, the station has provided a refreshingly local take on current events and relevant programming.
However, after years of broadcasting out of the Spark Museum, KMRE is in need of a new home.
The needs of the station has outgrown the current space, yet the search for somewhere new to broadcast out of has, as of now, proven to no avail. As one of the few remaining independent non-profit community radio stations, the future of KMRE parallels the bigger-scale need for such stations to stay alive and relevant as news and media outlets are changing more than ever in 2017.
“SPARK Museum has been a great host to us for all these years however due to space issues, we will need to find a new location for our community studio,” Station Manager Suzanne Blais said. Since its inception 12 years ago, the needs of the station have shifted to fit with the times. Because KMRE has proven successful, it’s now in need of a home independent of SPARK, the organization that birthed the station.
KMRE Program Director Stephanie Kountouros is concerned, but excited at the possibilities of a new location and independent status for the station.
“Parting ways is a challenge for any enmeshed organizations,” Kountouros said. “But doing so gives us a chance to find a better space for our growing needs and increased number of local programs. We’ve just added ‘Community Voz’ providing Bellingham with voices from Community to Community, Red Line Salish Sea and other groups. They have insights and issues you won’t find anywhere on the FM dial.”
KMRE also highlights the importance of local over national or global— a growing concern of the station is that the discourse behind local issues and stories may disappear with the current importance placed on dramatic global events that overshadow other discussions to be had.
“Many of the voices and perspectives we feature have no other broadcast media outlet.” Kountouros said. Alongside the Cascadia Weekly and KUGS’ local news and public affairs show “The Beat”, KMRE covers stories and engages with citizens, activists and other voices that have few other options to be heard.
This makes the need for a relocation somewhat concerning, considering that the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) rarely grants licenses for community stations such as KMRE. If the station’s signal goes down without a secured new home, the odds of it returning grow much slimmer.
In turn, the community support for the station becomes more important, since they will ultimately have the power to decide the fate of the station.
“We’re at a crossroads— do we emerge strong and brilliant as a new entity, or do we celebrate the last decade and turn off the microphones forever. It’s up to the community to decide— and decide if we’re worth working for.” Kountouros said, of the possibility of the station shutting down.
After two public community meetings that were held at the start of November concerning the future of the station, KMRE has decided to set up a fundraiser in hopes of keeping the station alive.
Since the station is in the process of become its own entity, a new non-profit organization must rise from the ashes of the current space to be eligible for transferring the radio signal. This need, alongside the cost of relocation and replacement of equipment warrants the station’s need for community help.
The hope of relocation and expansion comes at a pivotal time for KMRE, with the possibility of their 40 local programs growing and expanding to the broadcast area. Due to a partnership with Daylight Properties, the station’s transmitter currently exists atop the Herald building, making the broadcast range go all the way from Ferndale to parts of Skagit County. If the station doesn’t find the new space it needs, the transmitter will go down for good.
Western’s own KUGS is not the only local station that broadcasts current issues and community based programs, but it might become the most accessible source for such radio programming if KMRE doesn’t continue to broadcast.
“Together, we can ensure our community has a voice on the air for years to come,” said Blais.
Though SPARK cannot continue to host the station, it currently exists in a state of limbo and KMRE continues to broadcast to the outer reaches of Whatcom County. Tune in to 102.3 FM for your daily dose of local historical, educational and entertainment based programming, and know that you can have a say in the future of one of Bellingham’s most beloved organizations.
KMRE’s fundraiser can be accessed online at http://savekmre.org/.