City Fairfield, Iowa Frequency 100.1 FM ERP 100 watts | Slogan The Voice of Fairfield Format Community radio Class Low power FM | |
KRUU-LP (100.1 FM) is a 100-watt non-commercial low-power community radio station operating in Fairfield, Iowa. The station is partially solar powered. KRUU is an open source, independent radio, listener-supported station and serves a broadcast radius of approximately ten (10) miles.
History
Originally granted a construction permit to build a low power radio station with the call letters KRUU by the FCC in 2001, the Fairfield Youth Advocacy a.k.a.the Beatbox, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was granted a six month extension in April 2006. At that time a town hall meeting was held and the board of directors was formed. With community-wide volunteer help the station debuted on air on September 30, 2006. Ninety-nine percent(99%) of KRUU's programs are locally produced by volunteer hosts who create 80 shows a week.
In September 2009 at KRUU became the first partially solar-powered radio station in the midwest United States. According to KRUU, solar panels reduce its reliance on the conventional electrical grid by 15% to 20% percent and power the master control room and transmitter. The operation includes Twenty-four Photocomm solar panels and battery backup is used during inclement weather.