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| Broadcast area | Kirksville, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 88.7MHzFM (HD Radio) |
| Programming | |
| Format | College Radio/Alternative |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Board of Governors Truman State University |
| History | |
First air date | February 10, 1998 |
Call sign meaning | Truman State University |
| Technical information | |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,500watts |
| HAAT | 60 meters |
| Links | |
| Website | http://ktrm.truman.edu |
KTRM (88.7FM) is an FM non-commercial/educational radio station operated by students atTruman State University inKirksville, Missouri. The station featuresalternative music, with specialty shows hosted in the evenings and on weekends. KTRM broadcasts at 3,500 wattseffective radiated power, coveringAdair County and rural areas within a 25-mile radius.
KTRM also streams online usingQuickTime.
KTRM was originally envisioned in 1975, when the Department of Language and Literature sought to establish a 100,000 wattFM station. The university, however, decided to pursue an unlicensed operation, regulated byPart 15 of FCC code. Under the letters KNEU (forNortheast Missouri StateUniversity, Truman's previous name), the station debuted in October 1975 at 1600AM. Because the power levels allowed by Part 15 only resulted in a small coverage area, transmitters were purchased for each residence hall.
The reception of the 1600 AM signal was not ideal in several of the brick and mortar halls. In February 1976, KNEU moved to 580 AM and rewired the transmitters in each building. In the late 1970s, KNEU added FM coverage, but students could only receive the 102.1 FM signal on-campus viaCable FM. KNEU also broadcast on the university's public service channels.
Ten years after an earlier attempt failed, the Department of Language and Literature filed an application with theFCC for licensing. The Board of Governors approved the application's submission, and in 1996, Truman received a construction permit from the FCC. The original license assigned call letters KAVT on June 16, 1997. Because the KNEU call sign was used by a religious station in Utah, the university requested and received the call letters KTRM on August 15, 1997, representative of the university's new name.
At 2 p.m. on February 10, 1998, University President Jack Magruder flipped the switch, powering the antenna and bringing "Kirksville's Tru Alternative" online. KTRM broadcast from studios on the first floor of the Student Union Building prior to the building undergoing renovation after April 2007. KTRM and the rest of the campus media relocated to Barnett Hall, on the southern edge of campus, in fall 2007. While their counterpartsIndex and News36 restarted operations at the start of the following semester, KTRM remained off the air until December because of delays in installing equipment that will make the station capable of broadcasting with adigital signal. In December 2008, KTRM returned to the air with a higher power of 2,500 watts broadcasting in HD.
KTRM went to 24-hour operation in October 2006. The station is advised by a faculty member in the Department of Communication at Truman State University.
KTRM has won numerous awards for its broadcast service, including national honors from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. In 2013, Geoffrey Woehlk was named Station Manager of the Year and Brooke Giddens received a national IBS award for Program Director of the Year. KTRM has also received numerous regional awards from the Missouri Broadcast Educators Association (MBEA). In addition to the radio shows, the station also hosts concerts and artists on campus, recently including Sir Babygirl and Nyssa. It was recently[when?] featured inRadioWorld magazine.
The KTRM call sign was previously used by an AM station inBeaumont, Texas. J.P. Richardson (AKAThe Big Bopper) made his debut at that station in 1949 as an announcer before becoming a Top-40 performer.George Jones worked there when he was first starting out. That station, broadcasting at 990 kHz, is now the Gospel Music stationKZZB.
40°10′40″N92°34′41″W / 40.1778°N 92.5780°W /40.1778; -92.5780