KUCB HISTORY
Although the history of radio at the University of Colorado at Boulder can be traced back to an experimental station in the Physics building in the early 1900s, for our purposes we will start this history with the events that lead up to the campus radio station that we have today, KUCB.
1970s
In the early 1970s, a group of students (who would eventually develop into AIRBoard) obtained $24,000 from the University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU) for the equipment necessary to create a radio station and to apply for an FM frequency (89.3 FM, the last publicly available FM frequency in the Denver Metro area). The application was challenged by Granfalloon, a private company, and although the University fought for the frequency for a while, it dropped its application after accruing $70,000 in legal fees. The decision to drop the application was made by either President Roland Rautenstraus or Chancellor Russ Nelson. A name to remember from this time period is Casey Root, who became the chairman of CU's Student Radio Governing Board. (see Station Acquisition file)
1974
Outgoing CU President Frederick Thieme (he was fired by the Regents) set aside $16,000 from his discretionary funds to establish a 250 watt FM station. (see Station Acquisition file)
1977
UCSU promises $25,000 worth of equipment from the student rental reserve fund to KGNU in exchange for student involvement when the station goes on the air. Students will be "strongly involved" and it is planned that they will get internship credit. (see Station Acquisition file)
May 22, 1978
KGNU goes on air. (see Station Acquisition file)
1979
As of 1979, CU is the largest university in the United States without an FM radio station. (see Station Acquisition file)
1978-1979
Casey Root convinced UCSU to give $30,000 and space in the University Memorial Center (UMC) basement to the student radio group to build a campus radio studio. This studio was to act as a satellite station for KGNU, where students could produce shows for broadcast and pre-recorded shows could be transmitted to KGNU via telephone lines. The KGNU news department was also given space in one of the studios to produce their shows. The equipment for this undertaking was the equipment UCSU bought for KGNU, which was returned to the university as KGNU had upgraded with their own new equipment. This is the first mention of Michael Deragisch, whose title at this point is "Student Programming Coordinator." (see Station Acquisition file)
19? KAIR Formed
KAIR was formed when it was decided that CU needed a radio station of its own. This station was not student-run, but was managed by a full-time General Manager, Michael Deragisch. Students filled all of the other positions at the station. The music format was album oriented, but a general lack of service from record companies greatly limited its variety.
1987 KUCB Formed
KUCB was formed when UCSU decided that the station would function better, and better serve the student body by being an all-student run radio station. The full-time General Manager was fired and a part-time student position created (a bonus here being a reduction in the station's budget). The format of the station was slightly altered to fit a more traditional college format (album-oriented alternative). This format decision was made based on clear criteria: that KUCB's limited broadcasting range needed to be supported with a format that made it truly unique in the marketplace, and that so-called "college alternative" albums were the most readily available from record companies.
The entire carrier current system was replaced this year at a total cost of approximately $20,000 and Williams Village was added to the broadcast group. Jeff Cronin, the first official station engineer (previously the position had been under the Production department), had the fun job of completing this huge task.
1988-1989
KUCB started hosting alternative dance nights at Quigley's (now Club 156). These dance nights were very successful, and continued for several years. They started out on Thursday nights, and for a time were run Mondays as well. Tara Keogh was the original architect of this KUCB event.
This was the year that "Progressive As Hell" became KUCB's official motto. (This motto did not sit particularly well with UCSU, and was the beginning of some of KUCB's continuing problems with them.)
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