KUAZ
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KUAZ and KUAZ-FM are public radio stations in Tucson, Arizona, owned by the University of Arizona. KUAZ transmits on 1550 kHz on the AM dial, and KUAZ-FM is at 89.1 MHz on the FM dial. The stations simulcast a radio format of news and information, as a member of National Public Radio. KUAZ-AM-FM carry such popular NPR shows as All Things Considered, Morning Edition, 1A and Fresh Air with Terry Gross.
KUAZ's transmitter is located in Marana, while KUAZ-FM's transmitter is located in Tucson. Programming is also heard on KUAS-FM at 88.9 MHz in Sierra Vista, KUAE-FM at 91.7 MHz in Safford, as well as three low-power FM translators that fill in service gaps around Tucson and Southeastern Arizona.
History
As a construction permit, 1550 AM began as KSWC, but changed its call sign to KFIF before signing on the air on June 25, 1961. It was owned by the Southwest Broadcasting Corporation.
In 1967, John B. Walton, who had bought KFIF in 1965, also bought a station at 580 AM, which he would christen KIKX. The station on 580 could operate 24 hours a day. Walton then donated 1550 AM to the University of Arizona. The station became KUAT on October 7, 1968. KUAT initially had a format of classical music and jazz. When KUAT-FM went on the air in 1975, the FM played all classical music and the AM went all jazz.
The U of A put 89.1 FM on the air in Sierra Vista on April 27, 1992. It took the call sign KUAZ-FM, so as to distinguish itself from KUAT-FM. The AM station adopted the KUAZ calls on August 11, 2000.
Repeaters
On October 11, 2018, after an 11-year process, KUAS-FM 88.9 came to air for the first time, broadcasting to Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Benson, Huachuca City, and Douglas. Previously, Sierra Vista received KUAZ via translator K217GI (91.3 MHz).
A second translator, K283DC at 104.5 MHz, fills service gaps in the Catalina and Saddlebrooke areas to the north of Tucson and began operating in 2019.
A second repeater, KUAE-FM 91.7, signed on the air on December 18th, 2025, covering southeastern Arizona to fill significant gaps in public radio coverage in Graham and Greenlee counties.
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KUAS-FM (HD) | 88.9 FM | Sierra Vista, Arizona | 173449 | 1,700 | 675.1 m (2,215 ft) | C2 | 31°28′51.7″N 109°57′31.3″W/31.481028°N 109.958694°W/ 31.481028; -109.958694 | |
| KUAE-FM | 91.7 FM | Safford, Arizona | 768297 | 250 | 3,048 m (10,000 ft) | C2 | 32°38′59.8″N 109°50′54.7″W/32.649944°N 109.848528°W/ 32.649944; -109.848528 |
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K217GI | 91.3 FM | Sierra Vista, Arizona | 2720 | 82 | D | |
| K283DC | 104.5 FM | Catalina, Arizona | 201630 | 250 | D |
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K202EM | 88.3 FM | Bisbee–Douglas, Arizona | 3391 | 70 | D |
External links
- in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- in the FCC Licensing and Management System