KUAZ
Public radio station in Tucson, Arizona
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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| Broadcast area | Tucson metropolitan area |
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| Format | Public radio |
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Call sign meaning | University of Arizona |
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Licensing authority | FCC |
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| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | radio |
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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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).[6]
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 |
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| 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 | LMS |
| 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 | LMS |
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K217GI | 91.3 FM | Sierra Vista, Arizona | 2720 | 82 | D | LMS |
| K283DC | 104.5 FM | Catalina, Arizona | 201630 | 250 | D | LMS |
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
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| K202EM | 88.3 FM | Bisbee–Douglas, Arizona | 3391 | 70 | D | LMS |