By Joseph Barrios

Arizona Daily Wildcat

KAMP student radio is hoping to surpass federal regulations and high costs to get their signal to students on campus.

Members of KAMP are hoping to broadcast their signal using a network of small antennas set up on various buildings around campus, said Kevin Oakes, KAMP executive assistant. The antennas would send out low-level signals that could be received by radios around the University of Arizona area.

KAMP's signal would not have to answer to the Federal Communications Commission as long as their signal had less then half a watt of power and originated from a spot less than six stories high, said Greg Horner, a senior support systems analyst.

"It's below the threshold of what's regulated by the FCC," Horner said.

The Student Union's test antenna would be set up on top of the elevator shaft on the third floor of the building. KAMP will have to find a frequency with the low-level transmitter that would not be drowned out by citywide radio stations.

The antennas and transmitters also must be approved by several offices on campus before they can be installed, starting with Facilities Management. Oakes said they need to get the technical specifications of the equipment from their manufacturers first.

The proposal must then be submitted to Facilities Management for approval as well as the space committee. The specifications are expected within a few days, Oakes said.

KAMP's total budget for this year was $2,000, compared to last year's $4,000. And Oakes said KAMP has been less focused on getting a radio frequency this semester, partially due to budget cuts.

When KUAT's sister station KUAZ Ä both FM stations Ä went on the air two years ago, KAMP applied to buy KUAT's AM frequency, but KUAT said it would cost about $100,000. KAMP collected about 4,500 signatures to support the creation of a special fund that would pay for the cost with tuition funds.

But Oakes said KAMP lost interest in the idea when the Tucson radio market advanced and the price for the AM frequency was re-evaluated at over $200,000. Read Next Article