An updated cooperative agreement between the Peninsula School District and community underwriters will keep educational radio station KGHP broadcasting to Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula. 

For now, the agreement averts the possibility of the radio station going off the air.

KGHP, an FM station, offers high school students hands-on broadcasting experience from its studios at Peninsula High School and features an eclectic mix of musical formats. It also serves as a source of local emergency information.

A similar agreement was formed when the station first went on the air in 1988, at which time a startup task force which consisted of citizens and community organizations pledged more than $20,000 to fund KGHP during its inaugural year. Since then, between $3,000 and $5,000 had been collected annually.

Due to the sluggish economy, however, contributions recently have fallen off.

“It’s been quite a challenge,” said Kristine Nyberg, a career and technical administrator with the Peninsula School District, noting that mainly students and volunteers staff KGHP.  “Turnover at the station and (school) district doesn’t help.”

Still, there is desire within the community to keep the radio station operational.

About a year ago, Nyberg said, KGHP sent a survey mainly to parents and business owners, and the majority of the 340 responses indicated overwhelming community support, if not a way to pay to keep the station on the air.

“OK, the community does want it,” she said. “So let’s move forward.”

With the goal of keeping the station going, school district personnel have met during the past 18 months with a forum of local government agencies, various businesses and corporations and emergency management groups to create a sustainable funding plan.

The resulting cooperative agreement provides for the general maintenance and operational costs required each year, including Federal Communications Commission and licensing fees, engineer oversight, legal counsel, web streaming and retention of a part-time station manager.

In addition, plans call for upgrading and replacing aging technology and transmission equipment.

The agreement also calls for 10 underwriters to give $2,500 for the year, and others to give what they can, with the school district funding the other half.

It costs between $45,000 and $50,000 to run the station annually, Nyberg said, adding that the agreement with underwrites are pledges and not contracts or legal documents.

She praised the individuals and organizations which support KGHP, past and present.

A few years ago, the station was in need of $3,500, and Peninsula Light Co. cut KGHP a check for that amount, Nyberg said.

“I can’t say enough about their responsiveness and support of the station,” she said.

To date, the following individuals and organizations have pledged to help financially support KGHP this year: Peninsula Light Co.; CenturyLink; Paul Kadzik, DDS; Key Peninsula Parks; Peninsula Metropolitan Parks; Key Peninsula Business Association; the City of Gig Harbor; Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One; Key Peninsula Fire Department; St. Anthony Hospital; Pierce County Council; Pierce County Emergency Management; Peninsula School District; and KGHP-PC Foundation.

Underwriter benefits include on-air recognition, as well as recognition in the radio station’s media publications, Nyberg said.

The next step is to get the forum together again to strengthen the station’s communication network in order to get critical information out to the public during emergencies, she said.

For those who are interested in becoming an underwriter, or for more information, visit www.kghp.org, or listen to the stations at 89.3, 89.9 or 93.7 FM.

Reporter Brett Davis can be reached at 253-853-9243 or by email at brett.davis@gateline.com.