OTTAWA – KOFO 1220 AM will soon broadcast on the FM dial. KOFO 103.7 FM is expected to be on the air in August, said Brad Howard, KOFO co-owner and general manager. The FM station will be a “translator” rather than a full-service station, he said. The FM translator must also simulcast the AM signal. Under FCC rules, translator signals are relatively low power and aren’t expected to carry beyond the station’s daytime AM signal. That means KOFO’s coverage area will continue to be Franklin County and parts of the surrounding area – Garnett and northern Anderson County are considered part of the area. Under FCC rules, most AM stations must reduce their transmitters’ power at night. “Basically our coverage area when we’re low power is inside the city limits of Ottawa and not much farther,” Howard said. The FM signal, which doesn’t have to be reduced at night, would be powerful enough to maintain the coverage area while maintaining a quality signal, he said. KOFO took advantage of recent changes in FCC policy that allowed an expansion in the number of radio stations, which allowed AM stations to buy low-power FM signals to supplement the AM signals, he said. Howard said the Ottawa company bought a frequency assigned to Marshall. Mo.
The antenna for the FM signal will be installed on KOFO’s tower on the south side of Ottawa, he said. However, the FM frequency will broaden the station’s reach in another way. The company recently signed a deal with NextRadio, he said. NextRadio offers a mobile phone app that allows Android and Smart Phone owners to listen to FM radio stations. NextRadio is also negotiating with Apple to broadcast on I-Phones. “Our listeners will enjoy the increased coverage and quality sound, as well as the ability to listen via their Smartphone through the NextRadio app,” Howard said. KOFO AM has been on the air since 1949.
Tuesday, July 6, 3 p.m.
