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Transmitter malfunction downs KRNM
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Posted on Jun 13 2008
KRNM, the CNMI’s only public non-commercial radio station, was knocked off the air Thursday morning due to technical difficulties with its transmitter.
Station manager Carl Pogue said the station was not able to broadcast any of its programs since Thursday morning as the transmitter has not been functioning correctly.
“I know a couple who have tuned in and were afraid that NMC [Northern Marianas College] pulled the plug on us and that is not the case. This is merely just equipment problem,” Pogue said. The radio is based at the college.
He said he has tried using all the spare parts he has available but that did not fix the problem. He has now turned to two engineers who will assess the problem over the next two days and will determine what is needed to resume the station’s broadcast.
According to Pogue, “it could be anywhere from four days to two weeks” until the station gets back on the air.
The engineers, he said, will determine whether the transmitter can be fixed on island or whether KRNM would need to have replacement parts sent to them.
“Hopefully, this won’t result in too much of an additional expense as we’re still several thousand dollars shy of assuring the college that we’ll be able to cover our operational costs over the next few months,” he said.
He added KRNM would need to “remain on the air through September if the unification with KPRG to form Marianas Public Radio is to come to fruition.”
