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KTRU

KTRU to broadcast on FM again by end of year

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved KTRU’s application for a low-power FM transmitter Feb. 9, so Rice’s student-run radio station expects to broadcast on Houston’s FM airwaves by the end of the year.

KTRU has been broadcasting online since the sale of the 50,000-watt tower, frequency and license to the University of Houston was completed in 2011. Rice designated a portion of the proceeds from the sale to be used by KTRU. The station is using the majority of that funding for programming, but the funds will also cover the cost of equipment for the new signal and installation.

“The KTRU community is incredibly excited to re-enter the FM format as a pillar of the Houston local music scene and continue to provide its eclectic, broad range of music through the accessible means of FM radio,” said KTRU Manager Sal Tijerina.
The transmitter will have a maximum power of 41 watts, which will reach a radius of about five miles around campus.

“We are pleased that KTRU will be back on the FM airwaves,” said Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson. “KTRU started out years ago as a low-wattage broadcast station in Hanszen College on the Rice campus, and this new transmitter will take KTRU back to its origins.”

Hutchinson credited KTRU General Manager Will Robedee with spearheading the effort to apply to the FCC for a low-power transmitter. Hutchinson also noted that in addition to providing financial support, President David Leebron authorized plans to install the transmitter on top of Rice Stadium.

Once the transmitter is installed later this year, KTRU will begin broadcasting on 96.1 FM; the station currently broadcasts 24 hours a day online at www.ktru.org and on HD radio at 90.1 HD2 24 as well as through TuneIn and IHeart apps and soon-to-be-added NextRadio app.

KTRU

Robedee Honored at Convention

Will Robedee has once again been honored by a national student media organization.  CBI presented the 2014 National Student Electronic Media Conference in Seattle this year after presenting successful conferences in Atlanta (2012) and San Antonio (2013).  At this year’s conference in Seattle, Will was awarded the Joel Willer award for “Exceptional Dedication and Service to Student Electronic Media.”

Robedee has been honored many times in the past for his numerous achievements on behalf of student media outlets including the establishment and management of the annual convention, establishment of reasonable and obtainable rates and terms for webcasting, and as a distinguished adviser.

Among his most recent accomplishments is a settlement concerning webcasting rates for student radio stations which makes it fiscally and logistically feasible for student stations to continue to webcast sound recordings.

 

Student Media

Rice Student Media Leads the Way

Both professional staff members involved with student media at Rice do not think just locally, they take their roles and involvement in student media to the national level.

Kelley is the “print” adviser and also is the current vice president of member services for the College Media Association and will be speaking to students and college media professionals on five topics at the ACP/CMA Fall National College Media Convention. She will speak to students in a session called “Journalists are Superheroes.” The presentation takes a look at the breaches in journalistic ethics routinely made by the likes of Superman and Spiderman, and outlines ways student journalists can avoid making the same mistakes.

Will is the “Electronic Media” staff  member working directly with KTRU and RTV and the Executive Director of College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI).  In his position with CBI, Will took the lead in making the 2014 National Student Electronic Media Convention come into existence in 2012 and continues to be the person responsible for making the convention happen every year and it has grown every year since its inception.  Will will be speaking  to students and college media professionals on three topics at the National Student Electronic Media Convention.  One of those presentations will include an overview of the settlement that CBI reached concerning the requirements and fees associated with student stations which play music on the Internet.  Will was the lead negotiator for both this settlement which covers 2016-2020 and two previous settlements.

Coverage of the settlement has received trade industry coverage by RadioWorld, AllAccess, FMQB and RBR, among others.

 

 

 

KTRU

Robedee Serves Student Electronic Media at Convention

Will is the General Manager of KTRU and staff advisor to RTV.  Will will participate on panels at the CBI National Student media convention, including a panel on copyrights and LPFM stations, among others.  Will has been a leader in the effort to both secure reasonable copyright regulations concerning audio at student facilities and in an effort to educate studeents, advisers and others of their obligations, rights, and requirements when a student outlet decides to webcast music.

Will has also kept on top of the legal issues concerning the ability for student media outlets to obtain an FCC license to become a low-power FM radio station and will host a roundtable at the convention to address the concerns of stations who have sought to obtain such a license.