About KSVR

KSVR Mount Vernon, a full-service FM radio station, is committed to providing local voices and content, with entertainment, news, and information, for the Skagit Valley College Educational District #4, in both English and Spanish.

Licensed by the Board of Trustees of Skagit Valley College, KSVR has been on the air since 1973. KSVR provides opportunities for students and community volunteers to produce radio programming to reach local populations. It offers about 50% of its programs in Spanish.

KSVR has been an affiliate of Radio Bilingüe, a national Latino public radio network, since March 1997, bringing news and information to our Spanish speaking communities, and becoming a network for families and friends sending messages to each other around the country through the 40 outlets for the network. Listeners from California, Texas, Washington State and other areas call in during music programs to give dedications and acknowledgements.

KSVR broadcasts a variety of local and national programming including the daily news program Democracy Now!, and other programs syndicated from Pacifica Network, PRX, Radio Bilingüe, and other independent producers.

KSVR is a member of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB.) NFCB is the oldest and largest national organization dedicated to community stations within the public media system.

A Short Historical Tour

KSVR-FM was born in the spring of 1973. We were all much younger then, and KSVR could be dialed by going to 90.1 Mhz on your FM dial.

KSVR was first located at the old library building on the Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon campus, and was operated by students with a faculty advisor. The station began operating with only 10 watts of power, so that its range was very narrow, including only the town of Mount Vernon. And can you believe it — we had no stereo transmission. Horrors!

In the mid-80's KSVR increased its signal strength to the 100-watt range and increased its coverage. Not as strong as the station that the famous Wolfman Jack used to broadcast from. But much stronger, at any rate.

From about 1990 to 1991 KSVR moved from the library building to new studios in Joe Reeves Hall on the Mount Vernon campus, and began to broadcast in stereo from a tower adjacent to the building.

In 2001, KSVR changed frequency to 91.7 Mhz. Also, during this time, the transmitter and antenna moved up to a tower in Little Mountain Park owned by the City of Mount Vernon.

Many have worked and volunteered at KSVR during those years, and we thank you very much!