Rock reigns in Summit radio decision

SUMMIT COUNTY - Because of an overwhelming public response, the Summit Public Radio (SPR) board decided Monday to continue to translate Boulder rock station KBCO into Summit County.

The board decision was whether to keep KBCO or allow country radio station KSKE take its place.

SPR operates the 94.3 frequency in Summit County, which brings KBCO to the High Country. Last summer, KSKE owner NRC Broadcasting approached SPR, asking if it would replace KBCO with the country station.

Both stations wanted to support the community by broadcasting local traffic, weather and events; KBCO began educating the public about SPR's involvement as soon as it realized SPR operated the translator.

Since then, the station has upgraded SPR's request to tell listeners about SPR twice a day to six times a day, said Terese Keil, SPR publicity director.

With both stations offering so much, the board relied on community feedback to make its decision.

As of Monday, 408 people had e-mailed or called SPR to cast their vote. Forty-four voted for KSKE, while 364 voted for KBCO, said Marsha Cooper, SPR board president.

"Now we're hoping those supporters of KBCO become supporters of SPR," Cooper said.

She hopes people who said they were waiting for the board's decision to keep KBCO before they donated to SPR will come through. So far, only a few people have donated money in support of KBCO.

"When I talked to Scott Arbough, the programming director of KBCO, today, he was personally upset that we haven't gotten new members. He said, 'We've got to do more. We want to get you more members,'" Keil said. "They're going to bat for us."

SPR is a nonprofit that transmits the three major TV networks and out-of-area radio stations into Summit County. KSKE, located in Eagle County, can already be heard in most of Summit County, but not in the Upper Blue Basin.

To donate to SPR, send a check to: Summit Public Radio, P.O. Box 6392, Breckenridge, CO 80424.