KASS

For other uses, see Kass (disambiguation).

KASS
Broadcast areaCasper, Wyoming
Frequency106.9 MHz
BrandingKick 107
Programming
FormatClassic rock
AffiliationsWestwood One
Ownership
OwnerMt. Rushmore Broadcasting, Inc.
KMLD, KHOC, KQLT, KVOC
History
First air date
October 15, 1990; 34 years ago (1990-10-15)[1]
Former call signs
  • KCSP (1990–1993)
  • KPGM (1993–1995)
Call sign meaning
Shortening of the term Kick-ass or Casper, Wyoming
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID43477
ClassC
ERP
HAAT538 meters (1,765 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
42°44′37″N 106°18′31″W / 42.74361°N 106.30861°W / 42.74361; -106.30861
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.facebook.com/kick107casper

KASS is a commercial radio station located in Casper, Wyoming, broadcasting on 106.9 FM. KASS airs a classic rock music format, branded as "Kick 107". The music programming is syndicated by Westwood One. All Mt. Rushmore Casper stations are located at 218 N. Wolcott in downtown Casper.

History

The station signed on October 15, 1990,[1] as KCSP, a contemporary Christian music radio station.[3] On September 22, 1993, the station changed its call letters to KPGM;[4] the KCSP call letters and the contemporary Christian format moved to 90.3 FM, with KPGM airing religious education programming.[5] In November 1993, the station became "Jukebox 107", an oldies station. The station transitioned into the classic rock format in the fall of 1994. By the beginning of 1995 the station would add hard rock and heavy metal to its playlist. In May 1995, the station changed its name to Kick 107; on May 11, 1995, the station took the KASS call sign.[4]

KASS, along with other Casper stations owned by Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting were fined $68,000 for using unlicensed studio transmitter links, which the company had been using for 16 years. The Federal Communications Commission fined the company $68,000 for "willfully and repeatedly" violating the law, giving the stations' owner 30 days to get licenses for its STLs for KASS, and sister stations KMLD, KHOC, and KQLT.[6] In 2012, station owner Jan Charles Gray was named in a lawsuit by the United States Department of Labor for improperly paying employees. Gray called the claims in the lawsuit "bogus".[7] In 2013, Gray informed the Casper Star-Tribune that the lawsuit and a $68,000 fine for unlicensed STLs were "a lot of baloney." Gray said if the FCC does not back down, he plans to "sue them on behalf of every radio owner in America that has been wronged by them".[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-502. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KASS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ The Broadcasting Yearbook 1991 (PDF). 1991. p. B-372. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "KASS Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  5. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1994 (PDF). 1994. p. B-419. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Fugleberg, Jeremy (July 28, 2012). "FCC slaps Casper radio station owner with $68,000 fine". Casper Star-Tribune.
  7. ^ Wolfson, Joshua (November 21, 2012). "Feds Sue Casper Radio Station Owner Over Employee Pay". Casper Star-Tribune.