KRCC (91.5 FM) is a noncommercial public radio station licensed to Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is owned by Colorado College and operated by Colorado Public Radio under a management partnership. KRCC broadcasts news and talk programming from National Public Radio and American Public Media, along with regional reporting and other public radio programs. Its signal is relayed across southern Colorado through additional stations and translators.
History
The station’s origins date to 1944, when Colorado College professor Woodson “Chief” Tyree established a campus public-address system. It became a carrier-current station in 1946. KRCC began licensed FM broadcasting in April 1951 on 91.3 MHz with a 10-watt transmitter, then moved to 91.5 MHz and increased its power over subsequent decades. Colorado College initially used it as a training outlet for speech and drama students; after those courses ended in the late 1960s, KRCC developed into a college and community station. The station opened its microphones to the wider community in 1978 and became Colorado’s third NPR member station in 1984.
In January 2020, Colorado College and Colorado Public Radio announced a partnership under which CPR assumed responsibility for station operations while the College retained the license. The partners established the Southern Colorado Public Media Center in Colorado Springs.
Ownership and operation
- 1951–present: Colorado College holds the broadcast license.
- 2020–present: Colorado Public Radio operates KRCC under a partnership and management agreement with the College.
Technical information
- Frequency: 91.5 MHz FM
- Transmitter power: 2,100 watts ERP
- Height above average terrain: 687 m
- FCC facility ID: 65563
- Licensee: The Colorado College
- Official website: krcc.org
Studio locations
Former: KRCC occupied several Colorado College locations before moving in 1992 to a historic house at 912 N. Weber Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Earlier campus locations included the Rastall Center. Current: Southern Colorado Public Media Center, 720 N. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
Address sources: Colorado Public Radio, KRCC’s former Weber Street home; Colorado College Bulletin (2017); KRCC contact information; Southern Colorado Public Media Center location.
Sources: Wikipedia, “KRCC” (station history and technical summary); KRCC station information; Colorado Public Radio and Colorado College partnership announcement (2020); FCCInfo, facility 65563 (licensed technical data).
STATION FILE
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KRCC-FM History
KRCC begins broadcasting from Colorado College
KRCC began broadcasting from Colorado College. Its roots reached back to a campus public-address operation established in 1944 and carrier-current broadcasting beginning in 1946. The new noncommercial FM station initially operated on 91.3 MHz using a World War II-surplus transmitter with only about 10 watts.
KRCC increases power to approximately 165 watts
KRCC increased power from its extremely modest original facility to approximately 165 watts.
KRCC remains on 91.3 MHz
KRCC remained on 91.3 MHz; its later move to 91.5 was not authorized until 1965.
KRCC authorized to move to 91.5 MHz
KRCC was authorized to move from its original 91.3 MHz assignment to 91.5 MHz. The Colorado College station had relocated to the Rastall Center the previous year and was operating at roughly 280 watts during this stage of its development.
1990: KRCC establishes its 912 N. Weber home
1990 — Colorado College records show the building used by KRCC at 912 N. Weber Street was acquired in 1990. The address became a long-running home for the college's public-radio station and remained KRCC's office/studio address for decades.
KRCC station manager Jeff Bieri retires after 35 years
Jeff Bieri retired from KRCC on December 31, 2024 after 35 years with the Colorado Springs public-radio station. He joined KRCC in 1989 as a volunteer music host, later served as music director and program director, and became station manager when KRCC entered its operating partnership with Colorado Public Radio in 2020.
KRCC celebrates 75 years of broadcasting
KRCC marked its 75th anniversary in 2026. The station signed on in 1951 and was the first nonprofit FM station licensed in Colorado. By its 75th year, KRCC remained owned by Colorado College and operated by Colorado Public Radio in partnership with the college, serving Southern Colorado with public-radio news and local reporting.
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