Reprinted from the Ottumwa Courier 

Grassroots radio station will be on the air in Fairfield
New radio station is 100 percent volunteer driven

By ERIKA RICHARDS, Courier correspondent

FAIRFIELD — Grassroots radio will officially hit the Fairfield airwaves at noon on Saturday when the crew of KRUU-FM flips the switch, turning on a new era of community togetherness, creativity and programming.

This new radio station, located at 100.1 on the dial, will be 100 percent volunteer driven, airing only locally-produced community programming that will include talk shows, news, around-the-town events and music.

“One of the reasons why we want to do this is because most of the media we see or listen to these days is created somewhere else,” said Roland Wells.

Wells, one of the organizing forces behind KRUU, said the community response to this initiative “has been incredible.

“When listening to this station, everyone will know it is their station, their programming by their neighbors, family and friends,” he said.

This project has been a long time coming for Wells who successfully applied for a license to broadcast in 2001. The previous year, the Federal Communications Commission created a non-commercial license they call “low-power FM” to allow smaller communities a chance to get on the air.

They then opened up one-week windows of opportunity around the country for communities to apply for a spot on the dial. Roland said the FCC has very strict rules around the actual physical distance of call letters from other larger commercial entities.

“If you were in New York City trying to apply for a low-power frequency, there would have been no space available. Because we are here in rural Iowa, there is a lot of dead-air space so there was that frequency available,” he said.

Roland said approximately 130 people have volunteered their time in one way or another from erecting the 60-foot tower, helping to construct the consoles, soundproofing as well as creating programming.

“This 100-watt station will give our community a chance to access airwaves in a way that doesn’t compete with commercial radio,” he said.

The building is located at 405 N. Second St., in a building that used to be home to the Beat Box. As the debut hour approaches, more volunteers are showing up with tools and various levels of radio expertise.

“I am really excited about the fleet of people coming to the table and I am especially impressed with the way Roland has been able to organize this group. It has been very impressive,” said Programming Committee Member James Moore.

With an open-door policy to all, Moore said he is particularly excited about the young people getting involved.

“We need their creative energy and ideas and with around-the-clock programming, from pillar to post, we need their help,” Moore said.

“Neither Jimmy or I have done radio before in terms of production, so we didn’t know what to expect in terms of community support and enthusiasm,” said Wells.

But when talking to other grassroots stations, Roland said they have learned that “people love the idea of having their voice heard and that is what we are able to provide here. Access to the airwaves for everybody.”

The crew at KRUU wants to invite all members of the community with any level of interest to be involved and come help support their community radio station.

“There are many people doing many little pieces. What is being created here is reflecting what the governor himself said of Fairfield, ‘a town of creative energy,’” said Moore.

“This is a wonderful fit for this city as this project is pulling the veil back on the amazing resources of talent and diversity here.”