Nebraska Public Media has signed on its first new full-power FM station since the initial network buildout in the early 1990s, improving coverage of the southeastern part of the state.
A news release says KQNE-FM/89.9 (Falls City) signed on May 6. The new station uses 3.2kW/173m (class C3).
KQNE replaces 62-Watt translator K205FP/88.9 (Falls City).
The network also has construction permits for new stations KGNE/89.3 (Broken Bow), KUNE/88.7 (Columbus), and KNNE/90.7 (McCook), which were all granted as a result of a 2021 FCC filing window.
“New full-power transmitters are a rare opportunity from the FCC to grow our signal and service,” said Mark Leonard, Nebraska Public Media general manager/CEO. “These new stations will allow us to reach more Nebraskans so they can listen to the local and NPR news central to our identity.”
The Columbus station will replace translator K209FS/89.7, which left the air last year after losing its tower site.
Nebraska Public Media’s radio network carries long-form NPR news programming and Classical music.