Broadcast Coverage Maps

FM Stations - Detail         FM Stations - Printable

AM Stations - Detail         AM Stations - Printable

FM Stations
KUMD		103.3	Duluth		KNGA	N	91.5	St. Peter
WTIP	N	90.7	Grand Marais		KNTN	N	102.7	Thief River Falls
KAXE		91.7	Grand Rapids		KNSW	#	91.7	Worthington
KMSU		89.7	Mankato		KSJN		99.5	Minneapolis-St. Paulul
KMSK	#	91.3	Austin		KRSU	N	91.3	Appleton
KBEM	#	88.5	Minneapolis		KCRB		88.5	Bemidji
KFAI		90.3	Minneapolis		KBPR	#	90.7	Brainerd
KMOJ		89.9	Minneapolis		KSJR		90.1	Collegeville
KUOM	N	106.5	Minneapolis		WSCD		92.9	Duluth
KNOW		91.1	Minneapolis-St.Paul		KCMF	N	89.7	Fergus Falls
KNCM	N	88.5	Appleton		WMLS	N	88.7	Grand Marais
KNBJ	N	91.3	Bemidji		KCCM		91.1	Moorhead
KBPN	N	88.3	Brainerd		KLSE		91.7	Rochester
WIRN	N	92.5	Buhl		KGAC		90.5	St. Peter
WSCN	#	100.5	Cloquet		KQMN	N	91.5	Thief River Falls
KNSR	N	88.9	Collegeville		WIRR		90.9	Virginia-Hibbing
KNWF	N	91.5	Fergus Falls		KRSW		89.3	Worthington
WLSN	N	89.7	Grand Marais		WCAL		89.3	Northfield
KXLC	N	91.1	La Crescent		KMSE	N	88.7	Rochester
KCCD	N	90.3	Moorhead		KRPR	#	89.9	Rochester
KZSE	#	90.7	Rochester		KVSC	#	88.1	St. Cloud
AM Stations
KUOM		770	Minneapolis

General Comments

Public radio in Minnesota is provided throughout the state by 42 FM stations and 22 FM translators.  Seven stations and three translators are licensed to universities, one station is licensed to a local school board and the remaining 34 stations and 20 translators are community licensees.  Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is the primary public broadcaster in the state, operating 29 stations and 15 translators.  These stations and translators are divided into two distinct networks. One network rebroadcasts KNOW, the other network rebroadcasts KSJN.  The dual networks provide multiple program services to many areas of the state.  The remaining 13 FM stations and seven translators provide service to particular cities and surrounding communities within the state.  There is one public AM station in the state.    

FM Service

The 1989 PTFP study reported that 16 stations and 12 translators provided public radio service in Minnesota. Since then the dramatic increase in the number of public radio stations (26) and translators (14) has come through the construction of new facilities or improvements to existing facilities. Of the 26 new stations, eight -- KMSK Austin, KBPR Brainerd, WSCN Cloquet, KBEM Minneapolis, KRPR Rochester, KZCE Rochester, KVSC St. Cloud and KNSW Worthington-Marshall -- were broadcasting in 1989 but did not meet criteria for inclusion in the previous study.  These stations now meet our study criteria and are indicated by the # symbol on the above table.  The 22 translators now operating in the state are listed at the end of this narrative.

As a result of the increase in the number of stations, service has been extended to more areas of the state, particularly northwest and southwest Minnesota and the area northeast of Duluth along the shore of Lake Superior.  Other areas now receive multiple program services. 

The percentage of Minnesota residents receiving a public radio signal increased from 90% in 1989 to 96.2% currently.  The number of Minnesota residents without public radio service has decreased from 415,000 in 1989 to 184,595 currently.    

AM Service
KUOM(AM) 770 kHz, licensed to the University of Minnesota, provides public radio service to the southeast quadrant of Minnesota and western Wisconsin at 5 kW as a daytime only operation. Two public AM stations listed in the 1989 study, KSJN Minneapolis and WCAL Northfield, are no longer owned or operated by public broadcasters. Portions of northwest Minnesota receive KUND(AM) Grand Forks, North Dakota, and portions of southern Minnesota receive WOI(AM) Ames, Iowa, and KRNI(AM) Mason City, Iowa.

Service from Adjacent States

Minnesotans receive public radio service from bordering states including North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.  A translator in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, is operated by KCND Bismarck, North Dakota.

Unserved Areas

The following six regions contain 65% of the Minnesota residents not receiving public radio. The remaining 64,000 unserved residents are scattered throughout the remaining 75 counties of the state.

Region A

In the northwest corner of Minnesota nearly 26,000 residents or 64% of the population of Kitson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods and Koochiching counties are without public radio service.  This is a large agricultural area with a widely dispersed population.  Much of the land in Lake of the Woods and Koochiching counties is devoted to state forest and wildlife management areas.  The upgrade of a translator at International Falls, on the Canadian border, to a repeater is pending FCC approval and would provide additional public radio service to about 6,000 residents.

Region B

In northeastern Minnesota, along the Canadian border, Lake and St. Louis counties have over 6,000 residents without public radio service.  FCC approval of a pending application for an upgrade of a translator in Ely to a repeater would reduce the number of unserved people in this area.

Region C

In western Minnesota, nearly 52,000 residents or 47% of the population of Mahnomen, Becker, Otter Tail and Hubbard counties are without public radio service. FCC approval of a pending application for a translator upgrade in Alexandria to a repeater would reduce the number of unserved people in this area.  

Region D  

In east central Minnesota 23,000 residents or 56% of the population of Pine and Atkin counties are without public radio service.

Region E

In southwest Minnesota nearly 19,000 residents or 55% of the population of Renville and Redwood counties are without public radio service.

Region F

The area in southern Minnesota, near the Iowa border, includes about 8,000 residents without public radio service.  Minnesota Public Radio is constructing a FM station, KNSE, in Austin which will begin broadcasting in the spring of 2004 to serve a portion of this area.  The region receives AM public radio programming during the daytime from two Iowa stations, WOI Ames and KRNI Mason City.

Translators listed by operating station
Facilities in italics operated by out‑of‑state broadcasters

WTIP	Grand Marais, MN				K201CN	N	88.1	International Falls
W219CU	N	91.7	Gunflint Trail		K201BW		88.1	La Crescent
KAXE Grand Rapids, MN					K280EC	N	103.9	Owatonna
K287AD	N	105.3	Bemidji		K297AH	N	107.3	Winona
K208BQ		89.5	Brainerd		KSJN Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
KMSU Mankato, MN					K215BL	N	90.9	Alexandria
K220AR		91.9	Albert Lea		K280EF		103.9	Austin
K220AQ		91.9	Fairmont		W208CR		89.5	Ely
KFAI Minneapolis, MN					K281AB	N	104.1	Grand Rapids
K294AM	N	106.7	W. St. Paul		K249BK	N	97.7	International Falls
KNOW Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN					K280EC	N	103.9	Owatonna
K280EB		103.9	Albert Lea		K270AB		101.9	Winona
K277AD	N	103.3	Austin		KCND Bismarck, ND
K208CR	N	89.5	Ely		K202BK	N	88.3	Thief River Falls
K297AD	N	107.3	Grand Rapids