Today, the only African American owned and operated radio station in Arizona takes to the airwaves.

Its launch coincides with the first day of Black History Month.

Cable Urban Broadcasting will provide information about the African American community that normally would not be covered, said Larry Watkins, the station's executive director.

"The programming is geared toward the African American community. We won't just cover the news, but talk about how it affects us," Watkins said.

The station is designed for African Americans, but does not exclude other cultures, he said.

The station will probably be popular, said Khaled Swailem, political science and psychology senior. "I would check it out. Tucson needs a good black radio station, because right now, there isn't anything."

Jesse Hargrove, assistant dean of African American Student Affairs, is considering becoming a talk show host on the station. "I would possibly be hosting a daily half-hour show on information and education in the African American community," he said.

"Dr. Hargrove is like a walking African American encyclopedia," Watkins said. "He is a great resource in our community. He has spent his life studying and researching our community."

Hargrove said he believes the station "will help to balance out some of the negative stereotypes in the community. People can voice their opinions, something that the current radio station programming won't let them do."

CURB 105.7 is not available to everyone. In order to hear the station, listeners with cable access need to call Telecommunications Incorporated and ask for an FM splitter. This hooks up to the FM tuner and allows listeners to pick up just the audio broadcast of the cable line. CURB's programming will include gospel, R&B, blues, hip-hop and reggae, plus news of interest to the African American community, Watkins said.

"I look at the station as a responsibility to inform and hopefully serve the community," said Charles Simms, a 1974 UA graduate. Simms produces "Looking Black," a radio talk show in Tucson. A broadcaster for more than 20 years, Simms serves as a consultant to Watkins, who is hopeful about the start of the station.

"It feels good that this is no longer a dream, but a reality. It may not be 100,000 watts, but its no longer a one-sided story," he said.

The station is also trying to recruit students to work at the station.

"A lot of students already want to be radio personalities," said Hargrove.

The radio station has been in the works since 1992, but it took a while for people to take the project seriously, Watkins said.

"It's literally taken acts of Congress and divine intervention to get this off the ground."