HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2015-022 Sponsored by: Keil, Terry
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2015-022
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, URGING THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATION COMMISSION
TO APPROVE KENAI EDUCATIONAL MEDIA, INC'S APPLICATION
FOR LICENSING OF SEWARD BROADCAST FACILITIES
•
WHEREAS, the community of Seward has two locally licensed and operated broadcast
facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Alaska non-profit educational licensee of KIBH-FM, Seward, is Kenai
Educational Media, Inc., an IRS registered 501(c)(3) charity with offices in the Seward Chamber
of Commerce building at 2001 Seward Highway; and
WHEREAS, Kenai Educational Media, Inc.'s board is composed entirely of Seward area
residents interested in bringing locally originated broadcasting to the area; and
WHEREAS, an application has been made to the Federal Communications Commission
to transfer the license of KSEW, Seward to this same non-profit; and
WHEREAS, KSEW, Seward at 950 AM is a part of a treasured community legacy
having been owned and operated by the local Fletcher family for many years; and
WHEREAS, in addition the public interest in the programming and other community
services that KSEW, Seward will provide, this facility will also contribute income necessary to
the sustained operation of the non-profit organization and is irreplaceable in this respect; and
WHEREAS, application for off-the-air FM translator facilities for the above broadcast
stations has been made and accepted translators are otherwise available; and
WHEREAS, these broadcast facilities and accompanying translators would provide
complete and sustainable locally originated service to Seward and FCC designated unserved
rural communities in the area including Primrose, Crown Point and Moose Pass; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seward and the surrounding populated areas have been
historically affected by forest fires, railroad derailments, volcanoes, earthquakes and related
tsunamis as well as more frequent highway accidents, avalanches and regional flooding, and are
thus in need of immediate emergency broadcast information; and
WHEREAS, KIBH-FM and KSEW-AM and intended translators would be locally
administered and operated with staffed local studios and would be the only sources of locally
originated programming including emergency alerts and messages; and
WHEREAS, KIBH-FM is the only originating broadcast facility in the region that is
receivable off the air and equipped with emergency alert capability compliant with the FCC's
CAP-EAS protocol; and
WHEREAS, approving the applications for these broadcast facilities would enable the
local licensee to provide these vital community services.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SEWARD,ALASKA:
Section 1. This resolution be forwarded to the Secretary of the Federal Communications
Commission and to the director of that agency's Audio Branch.
Section 2. The Seward City Council urges the Commission to grant such renewals,
transfers, construction permits and licenses as will allow Kenai Educational Media, Inc. et al. to
provide the community of Seward and the vicinity with local broadcast service and emergency
alerts.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska,this 23`d
day of March, 2015.
THE CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
can Bardarson,Mayor
AYES: Keil, Casagranda,Terry, Squires, Butts, Darling, Bardarson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
J I hanna u j- CMC
ity Clerk
(City Se,40®®®eaew„
o o --G— M
.,J 1L
s •
0.
•oq�OF A'• °6tra�'