KPSU is a Portland State University student funded group dedicated to establishing a licensed student-run radio station at the University. KPSU funding comes primarily from PSU's Student Fee Committee, community sponsors, underwriting payments from non-student DJs, and KPSU's Annual Pledge Drive. KPSU has a renewable time-brokerage agreement with KBPS-AM, the public radio station at Benson Polytechnic High School. Through this agreement, KPSU rents the use of airtime from KPBS officially making the legal station ID: KBPS, Portland. KPSU began broadcasting at 5:00 p.m. on October 1, 1994.
In early February of 2001, KPSU began broadcasting at 98.3 FM on the PSU campus, from a 4-watt transmitter situated on top of Smith Center. This later changed to 98.1 FM. At the same time, the station also began streaming on the web at www.kpsu.org. With the advent of online listening, the station increased its listenership significantly. The station has listeners around the world. Currently, KPSU's AM station, 1450 AM, broadcasts over the Portland/Vancouver metro area.
All radio stations are licensed to a particular city or town. In order to keep the station’s license, the federal government, through the Federal Communications Commission, requires the station to "operate in the public interest" and to be responsive to the needs of the community of license. We are contracted to rent the use of KBPS-AM airtime, and we are legally responsible to them to meet this requirement. KBPS-AM is a 1000-watt, class D station with a 200-foot tower located near Lloyd Center. The signal reaches over a twenty-mile radius.
Portland State University has over 25,0000 enrolled students and serves nearly 40,000 individuals in credit or non-credit classes each year. The Portland State University District covers two zip code zones and a residential population of 26,000. Another 15,000 automobile commuters and 4,200 Tri-Met riders come to work, study and play here five days a week. These people have a vested interest in the future of the University and the surrounding district. In addition, almost 60 percent of Oregonians live within commuting distance of Portland State and there are over 100,000 college students within the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. KPSU has made an impact on the Portland radio scene, especially in the 18-30 year old listener demographic.
KPSU is run by a staff of Portland State University students, with duties and responsibilities divided into different positions.
The Staff Positions are:
The Station Manager is in charge of navigating PSU bureaucratic processes, fielding DJ complaints, reviewing the budget, overseeing the staff, and generally keeping the station in business.
The Programming Director is responsible for scheduling DJ's to specific timeslots, and ensures that DJ's show content follows KPSU/KBPS/FCC policies.
The Music Director is responsible for contacting promoters to receive new music for KPSU, manages the KPSU CD Library, and submits College Music Journal (CMJ) charts.
The Assistant Music Director is in charge of assisting the Music Director with the CD library, logging new music, contacting promoters, and organizing the KPSU music database.
The Volunteer Director is responsible for organizing New DJ Orientations, networks DJ's with volunteer opportunities, and checks in with DJ's regarding training, volunteering, and their experience at KPSU as a whole.
The Development Director is responsible for coordinating KPSU's annual Pledge Drive in order to raise revenue for the station. Beyond this, the Development Director is in charge of assisting community members in raising underwriting for KPSU.
The Promotions Director is responsible for promoting KPSU events, coordinating ticket giveaways from local promoters and venues, and booking bands for KPSU events.
The Computer Director is responsible for maintaining the KPSU website, the archive, and fixes computers around the station.
The Assistant Development Director is primarily in charge of handling all underwriting (businesses and DJs alike) concerns at KPSU. This includes, but is not limited to: working with non-student DJs with regards to their underwriting requirements, striking those that fail to comply, and seeking out new underwriters in the Portland community. Additionally, this staff position is assigned to assistant the Development Director in any way possible.
The Production Director is responsible for creating and approving IRP content and training new DJ's on KPSU Production Booth equipment.
The Technical Director is responsible with the upkeep and proper operation of KPSU equipment, buying and installing equipment, removing old equipment, and attending to problems with broadcasts are also technical director responsibilities. Further responsibilities include providing support for live in-studios with bands, and teaching volunteers more advanced aspects of radio including live sound and equipment repair.
KPSU shall act in accord with the following principles:
Generally, broadcast licenses for schools, religious institutions and public organizations are for non-commercial, educational use. Among other things, this means that these organizations are required to provide informational, educational, and cultural programming. The primary goal of "educational broadcasting" in the eyes of the FCC is to provide educational programming for the public. Our goal is to see that this is accomplished in a professional manner. KSPU may eventually apply to the FCC for our own broadcast license. With a record of providing professional, quality programming that clearly serves the specific needs of our listening audience, KPSU will have a much better chance of being granted a broadcast license by the FCC.
Programming Responsibility
While programming decisions are made by the staff as a whole, the Station Manager is ultimately responsible for all programming content. The Program Director has the responsibility to oversee that all programming hours are maintained each term.
Broadcast Content Property
All broadcasts on KPSU become the property of KPSU and may be used in the future for a variety of purposes including but not limited to promotion of the station. KPSU will attempt to gain permission from DJs and live acts whenever possible and applicable.