Facilities Gifts
North Country Public Radio serves the North Country through an ever growing network of repeater facilities. As we successfully apply for and receive broadcast licenses from the Federal Communications Commission (a long, arduous and infrequent opportunity), NCPR must raise the funding for new and upgraded facilities. Over the past decade, we've been the happy beneficiary of federal grants via Senator John McHugh through the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. These grants funded 74% of the cost of a recent new facilities This means we need to ask our listeners and potential listeners in a new community for less of their own financial resources. But, we still need private support to complete facilities projects. On occasion, we have to raise the full cost of a new facility. When that's happened in the Adirondacks, Senator Betty Little has been a generous benefactor by providing a legislative allocation from public funds. Former Senator James Wright has also been a generous investor via his legislative allocations in provided emergency power sources and replacing our main tower in Canton. We hope you'll join us in making these current projects broadcast realities! 2008 Adirondack Projects:Tupper LakeBrabd new facility: 110-watt signal (at 88.3 fm), to replace the 10-watt translator (91.7 fm) that's served the community for two decades. The repeater has been hosted by the town first on the water tower and now in the High School bus garage but will now move to new location on higher ground. This will give us much better coverage in the Western Adirondacks. We've had a lot of "strong suggestions" over the years about improving the signal driving from Tupper Lake to almost anywhere else: Saranac Lake, Cranberry Lake, Long Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, etc. This project will cost a total of just under $20,000. In addition, the "rent" at the new location will be $5000 per year in new costs so we'll need to cover that as well. Goal: $20,000 in direct facility costs and $5,000 per year for the first three years of operation. Total: $35,000 Westport, Essex, and Port Henry NYThis is a new 160-watt station (on 90.5 fm) which should give us good coverage in communities we've never been able to serve and have often been asked to include in our network. This one costs $25,000 to build and we anticipate approximately $1,500 in annual costs. Goal: $25,000 in direct facility costs and $1500 per year for the first three years of operation. Total: $29,500 2009 St. Lawrence and Jefferson County ProjectsGouverneurListeners in Gouverneur and all points west to Watertown have long complained that our signal there is weak. Many listeners can only hear us in their vehicles as the signal will not come into their homes, including the most often mentioned kitchens and bedrooms. Imagine your morning coffee without Todd Moe? This facility will solve that problem as well as significantly improve coverage in the communities along Route 3 from Natural Bridge to Cranberry Lake. We plan to build a mid-size (1400 watt) station on the 90.5 fm frequency. Gouverneur would cost $55,000 to install and the current project for tower rental is about $9,000 annually. We're now working to find a lower cost alternative for tower space. Current Goal: $55,000 in direct facilities costs WatertownWe've long enjoyed a faithful and dedicated following in Jefferson County but, truthfully, in many communities our coverage was spotty at best. This project will increase the power of our existing station from 200 Watts to 6,500 Watts. This will provide very solid coverage through most of Jefferson County and northern Lewis County. The signal will be especially strong in Ft. Drum, Philadelphia, Antwerp, and Watertown. Current Goal: $75,000 in direct facilities costs. Cape VincentListeners in Cape Vincent will hear an improved 1000 watt facility on 88.1. Canada just approved a new powerful station right "next door" in frequency to our existing Cape Vincent frequency. Our proposed new facility will ensure that we can still be heard in Cape Vincent and surrounding communities. This change will also provide great coverage to Depauville, Three Mile Bay and Chaumont - communities not adequately reached by either the old or new Watertown facility. We anticipate installation costs around $30,000 with some additional annual expense for tower rental. Current Goal: $30,000 in direct facility costs |
New NCPR main broadcast tower and transmitter slideshow
The Ever Expanding North Country Public Radio Facilities Network:Our ultimate goal remains: To reach every resident of the region with an NCPR signal. To that end, we're always adding new and upgrading facilities across the region.1968: WSLU Canton 89.5 fm |
 |
 |
|
