The Yuba River Radio
Project Newsletter 2010
KYRR-LP 93.3 FM Nevada City / San Juan Ridge, California
KYRR 93.3 FM Ten Years Gone by
On May 30, 2000 the FCC opened a one-week filing window for new low-power community radio stations in 5 states including California. Of the more than 1300 applications received, the FCC granted 55 construction permits. The successful communities in the Sacramento area started taking the airwaves back in 2003 with the construction of KRBS in Oroville then KFOK in Georgetown. In the fall of 2004 KDRT in Davis went on the air and on Oct. 28, 2004 KYRR went on the air from a hill overlooking the San Juan Ridge. From the start it was clear that KYRR was a bird of a different color. Lacking anything that a conventional community radio might have KYRR was homespun from antique laptops in off-grid cabins; I-pods in RV’s and cassette tapes made on boom boxes came the content. The first 3 months consisted of a 5-hour broadcast 6 days a week. The studio moved into a donated Alaskan Camper in August 2005. In October 2005 Yuba River Radio, an all-volunteer community based not-for-profit organization of radio programmers was established. The remote broadcast site was networked via USB flash drives. The original footprint of KYRR went as far south as Sacramento and north to Chico. In 2006 relocation of a high power Hispanic FM station in the bay area was the first of many FM station additions and changes that comprised our signal. The amazing coverage for a tiny 7 watt broadcast signal coupled with an annual budget of less than $600 makes this a dream station playing more music than any other station in a large part of the Northern Sierra Foothills and Sacramento Valley.
Dreams forever come true…
In May 2010 Burner Without Borders; Black Rock City, NV provided a grant to establish Internet access at the studio on Gopher Hill. This has made it possible for anyone in the community with high speed internet access and a computer to broadcast live on KYRR. This has allowed many new shows to air including Cruzon and Beyond and Long Haired Redneck Mondays and Live from the Ridgestop Café in North San Juan on the weekend. In making the grant, Burner Without Borders was impressed with our grassroots efforts and gave us the name Bacon (bad ass community organizing ninja).
Chief Crazy Horse Closes
July 21, 2010 we recorded our last regular Open Mic from the Chief Crazy Horse in Nevada City. This has been our regular fundraiser and the $15 they gave us each show for making artist CD’s paid our annual music licensing fees. But more than that it provided a wonderful local music venue for diverse local talent. We are looking for a new venue to continue this show that was began in the early 1980’s on sister station KVMR.
KYRR limited streaming
Cruzon and Beyond and Long Haired Redneck stream live Mondays at 6pm on live 365/station/sanjuanridgeradio
The really strange stuff
In July 2010 the show Effie’s Tea party becomes the first regular live DJ show from our studio.
Yuba River Radio on Face book
We invite you to join the KYRR Face book group to keep connected.
Improved signal in Yuba City
KYRR thanks Clear Channel Communications for the transmission upgrades on their 93.1 transmitter in Pollack Pines that have improved our reception in the Sacramento Valley
A few words from the licensee
“Thank you everybody for providing the support it takes to
make KYRR happen every day, the kindness of the ridge shines. This is something
that the community is very proud of." SJ Michelsen, trustee/licensee
We want you on 93.3
It has never been easier to become a Local Dj on the radio. From your laptop from anywhere, for free in no time and it’s fun. No classes, rejection, program committee or hassle. And we never expect volunteerism.
KYRR comes in on most of the local reservoirs including Scotts Flat, Englebright, Bullards Bar and Collins.
93.3 almost never come in when there is a thick fog layer in the bay area and clear hot weather in the foothills.
KYRR come in places you would never expect!
