CFBX-FM

The University College of the Cariboo operated a closed-circuit radio station, hard-wired from the studio to a limited number of outlets as part of a media course that was offered at the school. The station was dismantled when the program ended.

After attempts to revive the radio station in the mid 1990s, the Cariboo Student Society (CSS) initiated a referendum in the fall of 1997 to approve a special fee to support the development of a new station. It passed with almost 90% in favour.

In February, the CSS hired Brant Zwicker as full time manager, and over the next two years, almost all the necessary gear was located and purchased or accepted by donation, then cleaned and installed.

In the summer, extensive renovations were made to a broadcast location known as House 8.

Early in the year, Dave Coulter of CHNL/CKRV-FM, Ron Wiebe of the CBC and Hans Oelker, wired the studios for broadcasting, and closed-circuit operations began as “Radio 8”, using the campus cable system for signal distribution. While Radio 8 was initiated as an arm of the Cariboo Student Society, the Kamloops Campus/Community Radio Society, which was established in June, separated the radio station from the CSS. During the summer, application was made to the CRTC for a low-powered developmental FM campus radio licence, with the submission on the agenda at the November hearing.

The applicant’s objectives were to “emphasize local content, to create a bridge between the campus and Kamloops communities, and to offer music and information that is not normally presented by the mainstream media.” The station was to serve as a training facility for students and volunteers from the community interested in developing broadcasting skills.

On February 16 the CRTC announced approval of the licence, with the station authorized to operate at 92.5 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 4.9 watts. It was licensed to provide 96 hours of locally produced programming each week, including at least 6 hours of ethnic programming. Volunteers from the community were to produce approximately one-third of the station’s programming, while students were to produce the remainder. Students also were to host the proposed ethnic programming.

The new station signed on as CFBX-FM “The X” at 8 a.m. on April 2. Shaw Cable added the station to the Kamloops cable system at 106.9. During the summer, volunteer Kirsten Grauer constructed a website, with live audio streaming under development. In September, the official grand opening was held in conjunction with UCC’s Back-to-school BBQ.

The CRTC stipulated that the developmental licence had to be upgraded to a full campus licence, within a three-year time frame.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CFBX-FM to December 31, 2011.

On August 28, the CRTC administratively renewed CFBX’s licence until December 31, 2012. On December 21, the licence was renewed to August 31, 2018.