LAKEPORT – This coming Tuesday Lake County Community Radio/KPFZ will return to the Board of Supervisors to ask the county for a grant to help get the station on the air at full power.

KPFZ and its members went before the board Jan. 23 to ask for $30,000 to match a $90,000 federal grant the station received last year in its quest to transition from low power to a full power station.

Station manager Andy Weiss told the board at that time that the federal government wants assurance by March 31 that the station has the necessary match to go forward with the project.

The supervisors asked to delay the discussion so that board members could see copies of the station's business plan.

There is also the matter of working out a legal agreement between KPFZ and the Fowler family, which owns the area of Mt. Konocti where the station's tower is located.

Weiss said this week he's hoping the board will be willing to pledge financial support for the station.

"The Lake County Board of Supervisors has an opportunity to make a significant financial contribution towards uniting every corner of the county with a community radio broadcasting system,” he said.

“With this help, the supervisors can demonstrate a commitment to local, nonprofit, noncommercial communications which will be available for all citizens to express their opinions, which will explore local music and culture, and which will serve the county with news and public information in an ongoing dialog and voyage of discovery – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – for many years to come,” he said. “Those of us at KPFZ appreciate their serious consideration of our request.”

If the station isn't online by April 2008, Weiss said, KPFZ will lose its license.

The station has asked supporters to e-mail or call the supervisors to urge them to support the request: Jeff Smith, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Anthony Farrington, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Ed Robey, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Denise Rushing, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; and Rob Brown, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Weiss will speak about KPFZ and the supervisors meeting at the next meeting of the Lake County Democratic Club, scheduled for noon on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Lucerne Senior Center, 10th and Country Club.

KPFZ will be before the board at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 13.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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