"In 1971, with the help of broadcasters Lorenzo Milam and Jeremy Lansman, several community organizations with no prior radio experience applied for an FCC license to begin broadcasting community issues on the premise that any community group with something to say should be able start a low-powered radio station to serve that community. The result of that act was KPOO, the first Black-owned, noncommercial radio station west of the Mississippi River. Wade Woods remembers, "None of us knew anything about radio, but we had created the Fillmore Media Center, including video and audio." Two years later, Joe Rudolph took over as Station Manager.
"In the early days the station was housed at Pier 1 in San Francisco. In 1973 the station was asked to leave and moved to a garage on 532 Natoma Street, located in the South of Market neighborhood. KPOO broadcasted from the Natoma location (pictured right) until 1982 when once again it was necessary to find new housing. It moved first into a condemned building at 1325 Divisadero, then an old victorian structure up the street, before finally purchasing its permanent home at 1329 Divisadero in 1985..."
KPOO San Francisco 89.5 FM: About Us
I was the past (First) President and founder of KPOO FM in San Francisco. Doubters welcome to call my landline in Macon, GA, (478) 741-1710.
ReplyDeleteThe FCC CP (construction permit) was first granted by the FCC Movember 19, 1970.
Meyer Gottesman.