Business Broadcaster Profile
Ken Cartwright
Canyon Community Radio - KENC 1620 AM - Stayton, ORSometimes a situation just screams out looking for somebody to come up with a solution. In this case, it was Ken Cartwright who saw the vision of providing a station for his community.
Here's a man who pretty much grew up with radio. It all started when he began learning about electronics with the help of his uncle, who back in the 1950's operated a local radio and TV repair shop in Northwest Pennsylvania. He built a 45 watt AM radio transmitter when he was 13. "That lasted about two weeks", Cartwright tells us. He also served as a radioman in the United States Navy.
Cartwright is no stranger to broadcast AM and FM radio as he has worked a variety of station through his adult life. Besides designing and launching a digital radio service for the Adelphia Cable Group in 1991 he also built and programmed a cable-only community FM station where is also trained other programmers.
Cartwright saw the need for a real community station. The local AM station operates a Spanish Christian format and the local low power FM serves only as a hobby for its operator. Cartwright wanted "the ability to empower our community with local news and local issues."
The station was launched on September 4, 2007. The studios are located in a small building adjacent to the music store where Cartwright serves as both owner and luthier. The station had recently added its third Rangemaster transmitter to provide additional coverage to the community.
The community has been very supportive of the station and people are drawn out when the locals are interviewed on the air. The station is also a supporter of the local food bank.
Station equipment includes an Atlantis audio console, two Gemini CD players, two Tascam cassette / CD recorders, Audix OM3 microphones, Sony DAT recorder, Kenwood turntable and a Gemini mixer for production use. The station operates with an Apple iMac dual core computer running Megaseg 4 for program automation.
Cartwright does have the desire to pursue a full power facility if an open frequency should become available, but prefers to operate on AM, not only for the range but due to the restrictive nature of the rules governing licensed low power FM.
Cartwright has a great way of looking at Part 15 radio: "It's not how big your watts are, it's how you use them!"
July 8, 2010 Update: Due to what can only be attributed to as an overzelous FCC field agent, Ken Cartwright has been forced to slowly dismantle his Part 15 station operation by deactivating two of his three AM transmitters. While more recent news states that Ken is in negotiations to acquire a local 1000 watt AM station it will be interesting to see if Binh Nguyen, the local FCC agent, will continue to be equally critical toward Ken if he should acquire the local AM outlet.
Canyon Community Radio - KENC 1620 AM Radio Picture Tour
