KRUA 88.1 FM

A non-commercial educational college radio station operated by students at the University of Alaska Anchorage, it is the only student-run station in its market. Broadcasting on 88.1 FM, the signal travels from studios on the UAA campus to a transmitter in Eagle River, covering a significant portion of Alaska's South Central region. The station also reaches a global audience through online streaming. Founded in 1987 under the call letters KMPS, the station began as a carrier current operation, transmitting over telephone lines and reaching only student housing and the campus center. Programming at that stage was sporadic, staffed entirely by volunteer DJs working around their class schedules. During the 1989–90 academic year, efforts began to establish a licensed FM station, involving coordination with UAA's journalism and public communications department, local FCC offices, and the Anchorage Associated Broadcasters. The FM license was granted in 1991, and the station adopted its current call letters upon launching full FM service in 1992. Since its FM debut, the station has served both as a community broadcaster and a training ground for students pursuing careers in radio. Programming is a mix of student-hosted and community volunteer shows, with music curated by the station's music department. Named shows have included The Old Time Radio Show, Alaska'bout It, and Zabu and the Hip-Hop Review, among others. The station is maintained by a core staff of students supplemented by volunteers from the wider Anchorage community. It accepts sponsorships and donations, and offers volunteer DJ opportunities open to UAA students and community members alike.