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KRNM returns to the CNMI’s airwaves
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Posted on Jul 07 2008
The CNMI’s only public radio station came back on the air Friday afternoon after three weeks of technical problems.
KRNM station manager Carl Pogue said during broadcast yesterday that the station’s transmitter is still working at diminished power, but has enough strength to allow the station to resume broadcast.
The 1,000-watt transmitter, located at Northern Marianas College, is currently running at 400 watts. The situation will continue until an additional part can be ordered, shipped, and installed. But Pogue said that, except for a weaker signal in the Garapan-Puerto Rico area, the transmission snag is not seen to be a big issue for many listeners.
KRNM is also having an unrelated issue with its Internet streaming decoder, Pogue said. The glitch is preventing the station from receiving the bulk of its NPR and BBC programming. Some of the affected programs are NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and BBC news programs. Meantime, the station is airing more Radio Australia and alternative programs.
Pogue assured listeners that the station will return to regular format once the streaming problem has been fixed.
KRNM was having financial troubles and on the verge of shutting down when the technical difficulties knocked it off the air in mid June, causing some listeners to think the station had gone permanently.
Northern Marianas College has said it will no longer fund the station. Private donations are helping keep the station on the air.
