WCLK(FM) in Atlanta and KCAW(FM) in Sitka, Alaska are the latest two stations to receive funding to improve their emergency alerting capabilities.
The pair will receive up to approximately $508,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for equipment upgrades. It’s part of the ongoing Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program, funded by FEMA. CPB has awarded funding to 40 public media stations in 22 states, which originates from the $40 million allocated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2022.
In Atlanta, 91.9 WCLK, “Jazz 91.9,” is owned by Clark Atlanta University. The Class A FM signal is receiving up to approximately $195,000 to upgrade aging equipment, reducing interruptions and improving its emergency alerting system.
104.7 KCAW is a Class A FM signal operated by the Raven Radio Foundation of southeast Alaska. It’s receiving up to approximately $313,000 to increase its signal coverage to underserved areas. Raven Radio is also heard on eight different translators across the Alaska panhandle.
CPB said approximately 170 stations requested more than $109 million in the FY2023 round of NGWS funding. FEMA also recently announced that CPB will oversee a third round of funding from the $40 million Congress approved in FY 2024.
“FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is dedicated to enhancing resilience by quickly sharing emergency communications with the public through various integrated channels,” said Manny Centeno, director of FEMA IPAWS.
