What happened to the AM station?

Longtime local radio station KIAL 1450 AM was retired in February of 2009, when our final paperwork came through for the new FM station.  Try us out at 89.7 on the FM dial.  We think you'll like the improved sound quality and increased signal area. 

How can I help out in making community broadcasting happen in Unalaska?

1. You can volunteer your time. Volunteers are always needed to produce radio and television programming.  We'll provide you with all the training you need! 
2. You can join our governing non-profit board.  The UCB Board of Directors focuses on long term planning, financial oversight, and policy issues.  Their role is to guide the overall direction of the organization. 
3. You can offer your feedback by telling us what you want to hear and see on local radio and TV - give us a call or send an email.  Even better, you could join the UCB Community Advisory Board and attend twice-yearly meetings to discuss programming. 
4. You can pledge your financial support. We are dependent on membership dollars to sustain our organization. 

How does KUCB receive programming?

We generate about 72 hours per week of programming locally.  An additional 10 hours per week is typically downloaded from internet-based public broadcasting outlets.  Thanks to ingenious engineering, the remainder of our programming comes to us via satellite:  Unalaska is located too far west to access the NPR satellite, so we drop our programming to a computer in Fairbanks, and feed it to Unalaska over the statewide satellite system.  This system was designed for our station by engineers at Alaska Public Broadcasting, Inc.   

Until 2005, we repeated KDLG Radio from Dillingham for most of the day.   Programming was interrupted for our own local news for 15 minutes midday and in the evening.  A smattering of locally-hosted radio shows would replace KDLG when staff and volunteers were available. New technologies have allowed KUCB to operate as a full service station.

How do I get to the station?

We are located on the corner of 5th and Broadway, in the Burma Road Chapel. Our entrance faces the school.

How do I get my event read on the air, posted on the website or put on Channel 8?

The best way to get a message out about an upcoming event is to enter it on our events page, right here on the KUCB website.  You can also fax information to 581-1634, or give us a call at 581-1888.  Non-profit information is run free of charge.  We charge a small fee for postings regarding businesses, jobs, or items for sale/rent.  Call for details or send us an email. 

What do your call letters stand for?

In 2008, we picked brand new call letters for local radio and television.  The UCB in KUCB stands for Unalaska Community Broadcasting.  All stations west of the Mississippi have call letters starting with a K, while eastern stations use a W. 

As far as we know, the call sign for our former AM station, KIAL, doesn't signify anything. The call sign most likely originated at some point during the military presence in Dutch Harbor.  If you have information regarding the history of the station and the call sign, please email us!

How can I get a personal, business-related or job-availability announcement placed on Channel 8 during the Bulletin Board Hours? What about on the radio?

For television postings, email Channel 8 or fax your design and wording specifications to 581-1634.  Our stations are non-commercial (we can't run advertisements), but we do offer sponsorship opportunities on both television and radio. For details, get in touch with our Development Director!

Why don't you post the Channel 8 announcements on the website?

We don't have time or staff necessary to manage this extra burden.   Hopefully, this will change soon!

Why is pledging to UCB important?

In Unalaska, you not only have a choice of two public radio stations, you have a community TV station as well. These services cost money, and our grants are not enough. Listener support from people like you will determine the future of this non-profit.

Pledging and volunteering are the best examples of community support because they allow us to grow and be more. Your financial contributions allow us to pay for the programming that you want.