Listener supported radio in Little Rock

[LiberalArkie]

http://www.kabf.org/?page_id=170




KABF 88.3 FM heard our signal first transmitted from our tower on Crystal Mountain past the western boundaries of Little Rock on August 31, 1984. Listeners were excited that there was finally a noncommercial, community radio station in Central Arkansas, and organizers breathed deep sighs of relief, because the clear sound breaking through what had been static on the dial marked the reward for an effort that had begun more than 7 years before.

The real roots of KABF lie in a nonpartisan political effort to establish “lifeline” utility rates in the City of Little Rock through an initiated referendum petition that came to a vote in 1976. Arkansas ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), a membership organization of low and modern income families founded in Little Rock on June 18, 1970 had been leading the fights at the Public Service Commission to halt inflationary increases in utility costs for gas, telephone, and electricity that were hammering their members. ACORN had made some progress but much of their success had been in whittling down huge proposed increases, which even in “victory,” still meant higher bills for their members. Finally, they struck upon a strategy of advocating a “lifeline” rate that would freeze the costs for the first 400 kilowatts of electricity at a fixed level so that lower income families would always be able to afford basic utilities in their homes. By getting a valid number of signatures for an initiated petition ACORN could put the issue on the ballot and if the voters agreed, enact lifeline rates.

Snip

The road has often been rough as KABF opened the airwaves not only to low and moderate income families, but also to many other voices that were unrepresented in the community. There was a fire at the transmitter site in 1999 that put the station off the air and moved us to a digital transmitter. Many experts looking at the vandalism at the tower site believe there was an attempted break-in and damage at the site by individuals, never apprehended, offended by the fact that the station was allowing programming to touch on the issues of gay and lesbian rights, as well as women’s rights in general.

KABF takes its mission seriously and continues to be committed to its founding principles and to serving as a “voice of the people” not only in Arkansas but as far as the signal can reach through any available formats including rebroadcasting and the internet. The first 30 years has been quite a ride, and KABF looks forward to the next 30 years as a great opportunity to continue its mission to educate, inform, agitate, and organize by providing a platform for people to speak their truths and enjoy their music.