Funding Free Media: Asheville FM looks to launch 103.3

Posted on by Tanner Hall

Asheville Free Media has been providing a wide variety of original, community-oriented programming since 2009. Up to this point, the volunteer, grassroots station has been broadcasting exclusively online, but after the FCC granted it a Low-Power FM construction permit earlier this year, the nonprofit is looking to take the station to the airwaves.

According to station manager Kim Roney, the station hopes to be transmitting on 103.3 FM by the end of summer. The first step to getting there is building a 100-watt radio tower on the top of Hotel Indigo in downtown Asheville, which is predicted to provide a 10-mile radius.

To fund the construction of the antenna, Asheville FM started its “Power the Tower” fundraiser campaign on March 18 and is currently working toward a $45,000 goal via indiegogo.

“The community has been very supportive, and we are eager to get to the finish line successfully so we can start building the tower,” said Roney in an email message.

“All of us at Asheville Free Media are energized at the possibility of tuning the dial to 103.3 to hear the news, comedy, talk and free-form music programming we’re curating here in the studios,” she continued.

While the current programming format and schedule are both likely to stay the same, Roney mentioned that there are plans for a couple of new shows, including a Spanish-language news and talk program beginning in April.

“We are hard-working volunteers who love feedback, so if there’s something missing on the schedule, we encourage our listeners to reach out and tell us,” said Roney.

There are just over 30 days left in the “Power the Tower” fundraiser, so visit the station’s indiegogo project page to donate and learn more about the new FM station.

To learn more about Asheville FM, visit.ashevillefm.org.

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5 thoughts on “Funding Free Media: Asheville FM looks to launch 103.3”

  2. TJ Amos

    Thank you to ALL the volunteers and station supporters! We want to make it even better, y’all, and, you CAN be a part of this moment in time of the station’s history!

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