Red Lake Nation’s New 100kW FM to Launch Feb. 1

The Red Lake Nation is poised to launch a major new FM station in northern Minnesota on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

WRLN/105.3 (Red Lake) will transmit with 100kW/192m (class C1) from a tower north of Clearbrook. Its main coverage area will include most of the Red Lake Reservation, with rimshot coverage of Bemidji and Thief River Falls.

The station’s Facebook page says its slogan will be “Bridging Northern Minnesota,” representing a goal “to connect the Red Lake community with our surrounding neighbors through education and entertainment.”

Posts say the station will broadcast educational programming, Red Lake news, shows from Native Voice One, and music of all genres in three-hour blocks.

Red Lake Nation News reported that WRLN is expected to employ 30 to 40 people.

The station will broadcast from a temporary studio until construction of its standalone building is completed later this year. A groundbreaking held last summer was covered by Lakeland Public Television:

WRLN’s sign-on will apparently force the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe’s K287AD/105.3 (Bemidji) to change frequency or leave the air; the station has not yet applied for a frequency change. K287AD relays KOJB/90.1 (Cass Lake).