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KUAZ and KUAZ-FM are public radio stations in Tucson, Arizona, owned by the University of Arizona. KUAZ transmits on 1550 kHz on the AM dial, and KUAZ-FM is at 89.1 MHz on the FM dial. The stations simulcast a radio format of news and information, as a member of National Public Radio. KUAZ-AM-FM carry such popular NPR shows as "All Things Considered," "Morning Edition," "1A" and "Fresh Air with Terry Gross."
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | KUAZ-AM-FM: Tucson metropolitan area KUAS-FM: Southeastern Arizona |
| Frequency | KUAZ: 1550 kHz KUAZ-FM: 89.1 MHz (HD Radio) KUAS-FM: 88.9 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Public radio |
| Affiliations | National Public Radio Public Radio International Public Radio Exchange |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | |
| KUAT-FM, KUAT-TV | |
| History | |
First air date | KUAZ: June 26, 1961 (as KFIF) KUAZ-FM: April 27, 1992 KUAS-FM: October 11, 2018 |
Former call signs | KUAZ: KFIF (1961–1968) KUAT-AM (1968–2000) |
Call sign meaning | KUAZ-AM-FM: University of Arizona KUAS-FM: "KUAZ secondary" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 1550: 2723 89.1: 3383 88.9: 173449 |
| Class | 1550: D 89.1: A 88.9: C2 |
| Power | 1550: 50,000 watts days only |
| ERP | 89.1: 1,600 watts 88.9: 1,700 watts |
| HAAT | 89.1: 187.0 meters (613.5 ft) 88.9: 675.1 meters (2,215 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°22′21″N 111°5′52″W KUAZ (AM) 32°12′53″N 111°0′21″W KUAZ-FM 31°28′51.7″N 109°57′31.3″W (KUAS-FM) |
| Translator(s) | K283DC (104.5 MHz, Catalina) K202EM (88.3 MHz, Bisbee–Douglas, rebroadcasts KUAS-FM) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | Radio.azpm.org/KUAZ |
By day, 1550 KUAZ is powered at 50,000 watts, the maximum for AM stations. But because 1550 AM is a clear channel frequency reserved for Mexico and Canada, KUAZ is a daytimer, required to go off the air at night to avoid interference. The transmitter is off Interstate 10 near the Tucson Premium Outlets Mall in Marana.[2] KUAZ-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,600 watts. The FM transmitter is on Tumamoc Hill Road in Tucson.[3]
Programming is also heard on KUAS-FM at 88.9 MHz in Sierra Vista, as well as two FM translators that fill in service gaps around Tucson and Southeastern Arizona.
As a construction permit, 1550 AM began as KSWC, but changed its call sign to KFIF before signing on the air on June 25, 1961.[4] It was owned by the Southwest Broadcasting Corporation.
In 1967, John B. Walton, who had bought KFIF in 1965, also bought a station at 580 AM, which he would christen KIKX. The station on 580 could operate 24 hours a day. Walton then donated 1550 AM to the University of Arizona. The station became KUAT on October 7, 1968.[5] KUAT initially had a format of classical music and jazz. When KUAT-FM went on the air in 1975, the FM played all classical music and the AM went all jazz.
The U of A put 89.1 FM on the air in Sierra Vista on April 27, 1992. It took the call sign KUAZ-FM, so as to distinguish itself from KUAT-FM.[6] The AM station adopted the KUAZ calls on August 11, 2000.
On October 11, 2018, after an 11-year process, KUAS-FM 88.9 came to air for the first time, broadcasting to Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Benson, Huachuca City, and Douglas. Previously, Sierra Vista received KUAZ via translator K217GI (91.3 MHz).[7]
A second translator, K283DC at 104.5 MHz, fills service gaps in the Catalina and Saddlebrooke areas to the north of Tucson and began operating in 2019.
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K217GI | 91.3 FM | Sierra Vista, Arizona | 2720 | 82 | D | LMS |
| K283DC | 104.5 FM | Catalina, Arizona | 201630 | 250 | D | LMS |
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