KUAC celebrates 55 years of service
September 29, 2017
Nancy Tarnai
907-474-1890
On Sunday, KUAC FM will mark 55 years of broadcasting in Interior Alaska.
The station signed on Oct. 1, 1962, broadcasting from Constitution Hall on the University
of Alaska campus. As the strains of Beethoven鈥檚 鈥淓mperor Concerto鈥 filled the airwaves,
local residents heard a new voice in the wilderness that allowed Fairbanks to listen
in on the rest of the world.
In the more than five decades since, KUAC has served the university, the Fairbanks
community and Interior Alaska, growing and refining services to meet needs of listeners
and viewers, and 鈥渃onnecting Alaska to the world and the world to Alaska.鈥
KUAC was the first public radio station in Alaska, the first FM station in Fairbanks
and the first public broadcasting station to receive funding under the Higher Education
Act of 1965. With that money, KUAC hired staff and purchased a tape duplication system
to help distribute several programs to Alaska commercial stations.
Television was added in 1971, making KUAC the first public TV station in Alaska. KUAC
TV 9 broadcast from 5-10 p.m. daily, introducing Alaskans to Big Bird and his pals
from 鈥淪esame Street,鈥 鈥淢ister Rogers鈥 Neighborhood,鈥 William F. Buckley鈥檚 鈥淔iring
Line鈥 and 鈥淢asterpiece Theatre,鈥 opening a window onto the world.
KUAC ensured that Alaskans would have access to the same opportunities as other Americans.
Since the beginning, many people have given their best efforts, their volunteer time
and their financial support to make it possible. The community has rallied around
KUAC in its pledge drives since 1979.
In the years since 1962, much has changed but the core purpose remains the same: improving
lives through public broadcasting.