FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KRCU TRIPLES COVERAGE AREA
More Than 30,000 People Receive Signal for First Time

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., March 22, 2002 - A new transmitter and antenna installed during the first week in February is delivering the signal of KRCU 90.9 FM to a substantially larger portion of southeast Missouri and southern Illinois.

The new antenna site just north of Cape Girardeau is roughly three times higher in elevation than KRCU's present site on the south side of campus. The new antenna height, coupled with a new more powerful transmitter, means KRCU's coverage area has increased nearly three fold to 1,605 square miles.

"Previously our signal reached just beyond Cape County," said General Manager Greg Petrowich. "With this upgrade, we are now providing better reception to areas like Perryville, Sikeston, Marble Hill, Cairo, and Anna-Jonesboro. Listeners are even reporting reception as far as Ste. Genevieve, Poplar Bluff, Paducah, and Marion."

Technicians from Harris Corporation of Quincy, Ill., worked alongside KRCU Chief Engineer Allen Lane to install the transmission equipment in a building located at the base of the tower. Harris is one of the world leaders in the manufacturing of FM radio transmitters. Meanwhile, a tower installation crew spent the better part of three days suspended 500 feet above ground, installing the new FM antenna and two microwave antennas. The microwave radio link is delivering the signal from KRCU's studios to the new transmitter site.

The equipment was purchased through the help of a grant from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA). Housed in the U.S. Department of Commerce, NTIA awards competitive grants to public broadcast stations in an effort to enhance their services and coverage. KRCU received 75 percent of the total project cost through the grant program. The remaining funds for the project were provided by Southeast Missouri State University and through private contributions made to KRCU's Southeast Public Radio Circle.