Vashon Will Get Our Own FM Radio Station!

On Friday, February 21, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Voice of Vashon’s application for an FM radio station. Fourteen years ago a small group of volunteers, including the late Bill Morosoff, dared to dream that Vashon could have its own live radio voice. Now, that dream has become a reality.

VoV has been issued a construction permit for the new FM station at 101.9 on the FM dial. As soon as construction funds are raised, call letters assigned by the FCC and the needed equipment is installed, the station will start serving the Vashon-Maury Island community. Then, after a short testing period to make sure Vashon’s station doesn’t interfere with any other stations, a permanent license will be issued.

According to Steven Allen, a veteran broadcast engineer and longtime VoV volunteer, the station will go on the air as soon as possible. “It will take some time to build the transmitter, antenna and other elements needed to put the station on the air but, fortunately, we built much of the needed infrastructure long ago in anticipation of this moment.”

Station construction will begin after funds are raised for the project. “The FCC approval has happened much, much faster than anyone expected” says VoV board treasurer John Midgley. “Now we must finalize our engineering designs and raise funds to finish building the new station. We believe we’ll need to raise $50,000 but we’re working to refine that estimate” says Midgley who hosts a VoV radio show called Jazz Kaleidoscope.

When asked about what programs will be heard on the air, VoV Station Manager Susan McCabe said “Our motto is ‘Island Powered Media’ so much of what you hear will be up to Islanders and we’re always looking for volunteers to create new high quality shows.” VoV is already broadcasting play-by-play high school sports, excellent jazz shows and streaming a compelling collection of Island music. There will be room for more Island-produced radio and VoV will even help train you to produce your own show through its Open Studio program. Get in touch with McCabe at susanm@voiceofvashon.org if you’d like to explore your creative ideas.

VoV’s Emergency Alert System coverage will be much improved with this additional transmitter on FM. “The 1650AM bulletins will be repeated on the FM station in the same way volunteers put them out on VashonALL, Facebook and our website” says Luke McQuillin, VoV’s 1650 AM Emergency System Coordinator.

Most people on the Island will be able to hear the station at home, at work and in the car. However, the Island is hilly and Vashon is limited by the FCC to a low power transmitter, so it will be impossible to cover the Island 100% with a single transmitter. “We’re planning to fill in areas where possible and we have several technical solutions in mind.” says VoV vice-president Rick Wallace.

“This effort has come such a long way since we got started” recalls Jeff Hoyt, one of the pioneers at Voice of Vashon and current board member. “Who would ever have believed when we began that we would have the emergency alert service, a TV station, dynamic website and now our own community FM station.”

Islanders are asked to help build the new FM station by making an online donation at www.VoiceOfVashon.org or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 2397, Vashon, WA 98070.