WBEZ, Chicago Public Media will take over operation of 91.1 FM at midnight on Saturday. WBEZ will pay Kankakee Community College 250-thousand dollars, and extend the college underwriting considerations for 5 years. The two parties finalized the agreement yesterday afternoon.
Wendy Turner, Vice President of Operations for Chicago Public Media says they’re excited to be able to keep public radio broadcasting for Kankakee and Iroquois Counties:
For the time being Turner says the signal will simulcast WBEZ’s programming, with none of WKCC’s local programs. And Turner says they will probably apply for a new set of call-letters for the 91-point-1 signal. Doctor John Avandano, President of Kankakee Community College said it was his goal to keep 91-point-1 FM broadcasting public radio programming.
Chicago Public Media and KCC expect the FCC to give final approval to the license transfer in early April.