We the People Need You

It's the last day of our fundraiser and we need you to show your support right now. KAXE works to build community in Northern MN through radio broadcast, cultural events and interactive media. This is done by having real people come in and share their stories and passions. From the explosion of roller derby across the northland to the growing local food scene - we give a voice to local people.

Proud Members

Our largest source of funding is listeners just like you who take the next step and pledge! We don't want more than you can afford; look at your budget and decide what you can contribute over the next year. Maybe that's $20/month, maybe it's a one time payment of $60, choose your own level and pledge within your means - do it now. 218-326-1234 / 800-662-5799 or online.

If you believe in access to local media, if you believe each and every one of us deserves to have our voice heard, if you believe that Northern MN is a place like no other, pledge now.  Thanks.

How KAXE and KBXE Will Coexist

Thank you for your interest in 90.5 KBXE! We hope this will answer some of your questions about KBXE.

KBXE is a new, noncommercial community radio station that will serve people in Bagley, Bemidji and surrounding areas.

Northern Community Radio will own and operate KBXE, using the same structure that it uses to operate 91.7 KAXE in Grand Rapids (105.3 in Bemidji). This shared structure will help KBXE operate frugally. When you make a membership pledge to Northern Community Radio, you will automatically be a member of both KAXE and KBXE.

KBXE and KAXE will broadcast together. Each studio will create outstanding programming and each station will broadcast a regional signal. KAXE and KBXE will serve most of northeastern and north central Minnesota. Sometimes the programming will originate at KBXE and sometimes at KAXE, but everyone who listens to either station will hear all of it! We are looking forward to a great influx of volunteer energy from KBXE that will be heard from Fosston in the west to the hill overlooking Duluth in the east!

KBXE will operate from studios at 305 America Ave. NW in Bemidji, in space leased from Harmony Food Co-op, adjacent to their new grocery. KBXE’s tower will be located between Bemidji and Bagley, to cover both communities with a strong signal.

The best way you can help build KBXE is to give generously to the building fund. Your capital pledge can be paid over a 3 to 5-year period. KBXE has to be ON THE AIR by MARCH 2012, or we will lose the license. Time is of the essence!

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about this project.  We always want to hear your questions and comments. 800/662-5799 or comments@kbxe.org.

Sincerely, Maggie Montgomery, General Manager, Northern Community Radio

What is Northern Community Radio?

by Doug MacRostie

Instead of being tightly focused on one community, or genre of music, or time period; we throw a wider net, and at the same time get more specific. Northern Community Radio has worked for nearly 35 years to build community in Northern Minnesota through 91.7 KAXE with studios in Grand Rapids, serving Hibbing, Hill City, Virginia, Aitkin, Nashwauk, Bovey, Ball Club, Orr, Effie, Deer River and beyond. And in Bemidji at 105.3 and at 89.9 in Brainerd with low powered translators. As producers, we strive to present the stories and voices that make each area unique and share them through radio broadcasts, cultural events and interactive media. This is done through community support and volunteer programming; individuals from all over come together to create what we know as Northern Community Radio.

The idea of 90.5 KBXE was born of two factors. Wanting to preserve, enhance and expand the service of Northern Community Radio to Bagley, Bemidji, Gonvick, Debs, Clearbrook, Shevlin, and beyond.The other factor was a final window to apply from the FCC. It was a long shot, but we took it. And we got it.

With a very active and productive volunteer Publicity Committee, KBXE is already doing the cultural events and interactive media, and we are working to build the station and get the radio broadcasting going by March of 2012.

The process of building a new community radio station isn't easy, and we're making it more difficult by striving to have studios located in Bemidji. We are making it harder. But it's worth it. Having a second studio location for Northern Community Radio will give easier and better access for that region. There are numerous volunteers who make a 70+ mile drive to produce radio programs for KAXE, but a shorter commute for existing volunteers is just the beginning. New volunteers, new voices, new ideas all with easier and more direct access to local, independent, community media broadcasting clearly from a tower between Bagley and Bemidji

Closer than any 'sister station' relationship, the stations will be like the two sides of a brain - able to broadcast as Northern Community Radio for both 90.5 KBXE and 91.7 KAXE. Both will create programs and content. Both will work to discover, define and build the communities through local support, local volunteers and local content.

It's what we do.

Rock on,
Doug

Doug MacRostie
Northern Community Radio
260 NE 2nd St
Grand Rapids MN 55744
218/326-1234
800/662-5799

91.7 KAXE www.kaxe.org
90.5 KBXE www.kbxe.org
www.northerncommunityinternet.org

Amy Goodman on the Power of Community Media

Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, stopped by a session that Doug MacRostie and Heidi Holtan of 91.7 KAXE were presenting during the 2010 National Federation of Community Broadcasters conference in St. Paul.

This is our video of Martina Tran of NFCB getting a video asking Amy about the importance of local media. What do you think?

More info:
91.7 KAXE: http://www.kaxe.org
Democracy Now!: http://www.democracynow.org/
NFCB: http://www.nfcb.org/