Montana Public Radio


Montana Public Radio is a network of public radio stations serving the U.S. state of Montana, primarily the western part of the state. The network is currently owned by the University of Montana, and its studios are located on the university campus in Missoula, with a satellite facility in Great Falls. The network is affiliated with National Public Radio. Programming originates from flagship station KUFM in Missoula, Montana.

History

Montana Public Radio began in 1965 when KUFM in Missoula signed on as a 10-watt campus radio station. In 1974, it became a charter member of National Public Radio.
Starting in the late 1970s, it began building translators across western Montana. Its first full-power satellite, in Great Falls, signed on in 1984. In 1999, a signal extension project funded mostly by a federal grant made it possible to sign on new stations in Kalispell and Hamilton and upgrade translators in Butte and Helena to full-power stations.

Satellites and repeaters

Montana Public Radio consists of eight full-power stations:
LocationFrequencyCall signERPHAATFCC info
Butte91.3 FMKAPC800 watts
Great Falls89.9 FMKGPR9,500 watts
Hamilton91.9 FMKUFN900 watts
Helena91.7 FMKUHM910 watts
Kalispell90.1 FMKUKL1,830 watts
Libby90.5 FMKUFL1,000 watts
Missoula89.1 FMKUFM14,500 watts
Polson89.5 FMKPJH130 watts

The network also operates five translators.
All translators directly repeat KUFM, except for the White Sulphur Springs translator, which repeats KGPR.