San Francisco Advantage

KUSF Sale Approved by FCC

by Ed Carpenter, Office of Marketing Communications

The University of San Francisco’s sale of KUSF radio to the nonprofit Classical Public Radio Network (CPRN) was approved today by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The sale, which was initiated in January 2011, allows University of Southern California-owned CPRN to broadcast classical music programming on the 90.3 FM frequency at a time when many of the country’s classical radio stations have closed.

Revenue from the $3.75 million sale will go into the university’s general fund.

In finalizing the sale, USF and CPRN agreed to a voluntary contribution to the U.S. Treasury as part of a consent decree. The FCC affirmed CPRN’s right to broadcast on 90.3 FM while the sale was pending, but found that CPRN’s payments to USF (similar to rent) during that time as part of the Public Service Operating Agreement unintentionally violated an FCC rule.

“The sale provides the University of San Francisco with funds that will directly benefit students and support our mission of offering an outstanding education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition,” said Gary McDonald, associate vice president for communications. “We are pleased that the FCC has completed its review in a manner that allows the sale to close and for USF to focus on its core mission of education and service going forward.”

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