Translator Board takes K102 off air

BONNERS FERRY — Tuning into K102 Country this weekend surprised many — no country music, no local news and no local advertising.

K102 was back on the air by Monday afternoon after numerous complaints to the Boundary County Translator District Board.

The Translator Board had been receiving numerous requests for more choices of music on the radio, said Michael Listman, board chairman.

Two of the five licenses the Board holds are occupied by country stations: K102 (rebroadcast on 102.3 FM) and 93.7 The Mountain New Country (rebroadcast on 99.3 FM).

The other three licenses include KPND (Progressive Rock), a religious station and a hard rock station, said Listman.

Spokane Public Radio is rebroadcast on another FM station license that the Translator Board doesn’t own.

At the Translator Board’s April meeting, they were advised they would receive more complaints if The Mountain was taken off the air, said Listman.

In order to diversify, the Board turned off K102 and rebroadcast 98.9, a classic rock station, out of Spokane instead.

“They didn’t give anybody notice,” said Mike Manley. “A bad deal for the community. K102 has local advertising, local news and they are dependable. That is what is upsetting.”

In response to the outcry, the Translator Board will be mailing out postcards to every address in the county for people to vote on which station they want to keep.

“We will poll the county on what you want to listen to,” said Listman.

To vote, county residents will call into an automated system to choose to keep K102 or The Mountain.

Residents will also be able to vote on what they want the new station to be.

The country station with the most votes will stay on the air.

The Translator Board meets the third Thursday of every month at the Visitor Center at 5 p.m.

The public is welcome and they are always looking for more members.