KHSU-FM listeners in the southern half of the county will soon be able to count on a stronger and more reliable broadcast signal. Last week the Federal Communications Commission granted Humboldt State University-licensed KHSU construction permits for transmitters in Ferndale and Garberville.

KHSU currently broadcasts to these areas, but the permits allow for new permanent stations that will provide a number of benefits.

”Listeners have told us our current signal in the Garberville-Redway area has been hard to receive in some places and this new transmitter will solve that issue,” says Patrick Cleary, interim general manager of KHSU. “These permits also mean both areas will have a station that can’t be bumped off the air by another licensee.”

KHSU’s repeated signal to the Eel River Valley was forced to move in March 2009 when another station moved into its frequency. The two stations built under these new permits will keep that from happening again.

The station has three years to build the stations under the FCC permits. Cleary says the community is asking for better signals in these areas now, but it will take financial support from listeners to make the new stations a reality.

”We hope we will be able to fund some of the construction with the help of grants and other forms of support, but it will take help from Southern Humboldt and the communities of the Eel River Valley to complete construction.”

KHSU broadcasts news and entertainment programming from National Public Radio, Public Radio International and the BBC as well as locally produced music, news and information programs.

With its studios on the campus of Humboldt State University in Arcata, KHSU can be heard at 90.5 FM Arcata, 91.9 FM Crescent City-Brookings, 88.7 FM Ferndale-Fortuna, 89.7 Garberville and 99.7F Willow Creek and online at khsu.org.