View source for KCSB-FM

{{Short description|Radio station by UC Santa Barbara students}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Coord|34|24|46|N|119|50|53|W|format=dms|display=title|type:landmark_region:US-CA}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name             = KCSB-FM
| logo             = Kcsb.jpg
| logo_size        = 180px
| area             = [[Santa Barbara, California]]
| branding         = ''Independent''
| airdate          = [[1962 in radio|1962]]
| frequency        = 91.9 ([[Megahertz|MHz]])
| format           = [[Non-commercial educational|Non-commercial]]/[[Eclecticism in music|Eclectic]]
| erp              = 620 [[watt]]s
| haat             = {{convert|879|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}
| class            = B
| facility_id      = 69081
| coordinates      = {{Coord|34.525278|N|119.958056|W|format=dms}}
| callsign_meaning = Community Service Broadcasting (derived from UCSB)
| owner            = [[Students' Association|Associated Students]] of [[University of California, Santa Barbara|UCSB]]
| webcast          = [https://kcsb.streamguys1.com/live Listen Live]
| website          = [http://www.kcsb.org/ kcsb.org]
| affiliations     = [[Pacifica Radio Network]] 
| licensing_authority= [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
}}

'''KCSB-FM''' (91.9 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]) is a non-commercial, educational [[radio station]] located on the [[University of California, Santa Barbara|UC Santa Barbara]] campus. KCSB is designed to be educational for both programmers and listeners. UCSB students and other programmers are provided an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of radio broadcasting, both technically and in terms of broadcast content, and to explore more advanced aspects of broadcasting and the audio medium. The station has a range that reaches as far south as [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]] and as far north as [[San Luis Obispo, California]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Durnhofer |first=Nick |title=Dish Failure Hurts KCSB Pledge Drive |publisher=UC Santa Barbara Daily Nexus |url=http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=8368 |date=November 12, 2004 |access-date=January 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105000853/http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=8368 |archive-date=January 5, 2007 }}</ref>

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2024}}
KCSB was started by student Bill Harrison<ref>{{cite web|last=Coe|first=Ted|title=KCSB Founder Bill Harrison Interviewed on "Real Gauchos"|url=http://www.kcsb.org/interviews/kcsb-founder-bill-harrison-interviewed|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415061539/http://www.kcsb.org/interviews/kcsb-founder-bill-harrison-interviewed|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 April 2013|publisher=KCSB|access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref> as ''Navajo Radio,'' named for Navajo Hall,<ref>{{cite web|last=Marshall|first=Colin|title=This Is KCSB|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2010/nov/11/kcsb/|publisher=The Santa Barbara Independent|access-date=18 August 2012}}</ref> a 2nd-floor wing in the Anacapa men's dormitory from which it began broadcasting in 1962, broadcasting 3 &ndash; 4 hours of daily programming to the UCSB dorms at 5 watts. It was the first [[University of California]] station to be licensed. It gradually grew into the station it is today, changing frequency in 1976 and undergoing wattage expansions in 1964 and 1983.

On April 18, 1970, KCSB was shut down by the [[Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office]]. The department took the measure as a precaution against rioting, which they felt would occur if the UCSB and [[Isla Vista]] community became aware of the events of the [[Isla Vista#1960s and 1970s|Isla Vista riots]], an outgrowth of anger originating with the [[Vietnam War]] that was ignited by the firing of a popular professor. The incident is the only record of a police force shutting down a radio station.

In 1989, the station was embroiled in a controversy revolving around the dismissal of volunteer host [[Sean Hannity]] for featuring a guest who made offensive remarks about homosexuals.<ref>{{cite web|last=Palladino|first=D.J.|title=KCSB Celebrates 50 Years on the Air|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2012/apr/25/kcsb-celebrates-50-years-air/|publisher=The Santa Barbara Independent|access-date=18 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012051406/http://www.independent.com/news/2012/apr/25/kcsb-celebrates-50-years-air/|archive-date=12 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Santa Barbara chapter of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] defended Hannity's right to [[Freedom of speech|free speech]], and the station offered Hannity his slot back. He did not accept the offer, instead demanding more airtime.

KCSB celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. The year-long celebration included a design contest, a nostalgic addition to the KCSB program which aired archived shows, an alumni reunion, an audio exhibit, and a radio-themed film series.

==Programming==
The KCSB schedule of programming is pre-prepared each quarter by the PMRC (Program Mediation and Review Committee). New DJs are required to submit a demo tape, demonstrating an ability to provide alternative programming and a certain amount of skill using the mixing board. Slots are assigned according to programmer availability, quality of programming, and seniority. Before applying to KCSB, interested DJs must complete a quarter of training on KJUC (the AM training station that can only be heard in the dorms), and receive a passing score on the [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] test. Any member of the community may try for a spot on the schedule. Besides offering unique musical programming, KCSB is a conduit of community news and information, including UCSB athletics, and features the popular national news program [[Democracy Now]]. The station has been [[webcasting]] since the 1990s.

After 31 years employed at UCSB, KCSB Advisor Elizabeth Robinson retired at the end of Spring Quarter 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stefani|first=Katelyn|title=KCSB Director Elizabeth Robinson Retires|date=30 May 2012|url=http://thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/2012/05/kcsb-director-elizabeth-robinson-retires|publisher=The Bottom Line|access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref> An executive committee made up of UCSB students administer various aspects of the station including promotions, publications, programming and engineering.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcsb.org/contact/|title=Contact KCSB}}</ref>

==Notable personalities==
{{Dynamic list}}
The following notable individuals have been featured by KCSB as on-air personalities:

* [[Sean Hannity]], talk radio host and the host of Fox News Channel's program ''Hannity''. Was on KCSB during the late 1980s.
* [[Edie Lambert]], News anchor @ [[KCRA-TV]] in Sacramento, formerly @ [[KEYT-TV]]-3 in Santa Barbara. Edie was in the News Department at KCSB in the late 1980s.
* [[Jeffrey Peterson]], famous technology entrepreneur. Was a DJ and Traffic Manager at KCSB from 1986 to 1990.
* [[Jim Rome]], sports radio host syndicated by Clear Channel. Worked at KCSB during the mid-1980s and was Sports Director for one quarter. Was also sports director at [[KTMS]]-AM 1250 in Santa Barbara for two years after graduating from UCSB.
* [[Zan Stewart]], award-winning jazz journalist, on air in 1964 and again 1972–1974.

==See also==
* [[College radio]]
* [[List of college radio stations in the United States]]
* [[List of community radio stations in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=69492 FCC History Cards for KCSB-FM]
* [http://www.kcsb.org/ KCSB official website]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/KCSB-FM-919-in-Santa-Barbara/121864956626 KCSB on Facebook]
{{FM station data|69081|KCSB-FM}}
* [https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/fm-profile/KCSB-FM/contour-maps#browse-by-category FCC Public Inspection File contour map]

{{Santa Barbara Radio}}
{{California college radio}}
{{UCSB}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:University of California, Santa Barbara]]
[[Category:College radio stations in California|CSB-FM]]
[[Category:Radio stations in California|CSB-FM]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1962]]
[[Category:Community radio stations in the United States]]