KUAZ

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."

KUAZ and KUAZ-FM

Tucson, Arizona United States
Broadcast area	Tucson metropolitan area
Frequencies	KUAZ: 1550 kHz KUAZ-FM: 89.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Programming
Format	Public radio
Affiliations	National Public Radio Public Radio International Public Radio Exchange
Ownership
Owner	University of Arizona (Arizona Board of Regents)
Sister stations	KUAT-FM, KUAT-TV
History
First air date	KUAZ: June 26, 1961 (1961-06-26) KUAZ-FM: April 27, 1992 (1992-04-27)
Former call signs	KUAZ: KFIF (1961–1968) KUAT-AM (1968–2000)
Call sign meaning	University of Arizona
Technical information[1][2]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	KUAZ: 2723 KUAZ-FM: 3383
Class	KUAZ: D KUAZ-FM: A
Power	KUAZ: 50,000 watts (day)
ERP	KUAZ-FM: 1,600 watts
HAAT	KUAZ-FM: 187.0 meters (613.5 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	KUAZ: 32°22′21″N 111°5′52″W KUAZ-FM: 32°12′53″N 111°0′21″W
Links
Public license information	KUAZ: Public file LMS KUAZ-FM: Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	Radio.azpm.org/KUAZ

KUAZ's transmitter is located in Marana, while KUAZ-FM's transmitter is located in Tucson. Programming is also heard on KUAS-FM at 88.9 MHz in Sierra Vista, as well as three low-power FM translators that fill in service gaps around Tucson and Southeastern Arizona.

History

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.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] The AM station adopted the KUAZ calls on August 11, 2000.

Repeaters

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).^[6]

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)	HAAT	Class	Transmitter coordinates	FCC info
KUAS-FM	88.9 FM	Sierra Vista, Arizona	173449	1,700	675.1 m (2,215 ft)	C2	31°28′51.7″N 109°57′31.3″W	LMS

Broadcast translators for KUAZ-FM

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

Broadcast translator for KUAS-FM

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP (W)	Class	FCC info
K202EM	88.3 FM	Bisbee–Douglas, Arizona	3391	70	D	LMS