The Federal Communications Commission used to strictly limit the number of radio stations one company could own in a market area, but in 1996 Congress approved a complicated formula that allows one company to own a handful of stations in one area.

Weller says virtually anyone willing to spend the time and money could launch a competing station in Cache Valley. The FCC also allows anyone to challenge a broadcasting license on the grounds a station is not serving the public interest, convenience and necessity.

"It's kind of hard to challenge a license, but if you've got the chutzpah, you could do it," Weller says. "There's a lot of hoops somebody would have to jump through."

One of the reasons the FCC had for strictly limiting the number of stations was to ensure various viewpoints were heard.

Frandsen says Cache Valley Radio Group isn't trying to impose a political viewpoint on listeners. He says the company's news reporting is unbiased, and market forces determine which commentators get airtime.

For example, he says advertisers buy spots on conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh's show on KVNU because he has a lot of listeners. If the demand weren't there, Limbaugh wouldn't be there either, he says.

"We're not on a crusade to get our own political philosophies out there. We let the market decide that," Frandsen says. "Ultimately, we're business people. We want to do what's going to help the bottom line."

Besides, he says modern media offer a wide variety of political commentary.

"There is competition out there," he says. "It may not be in the form of another group of competing stations, but there is also other media — other opportunities for people to get their news, information, music."

---

Cache Valley-based radio stations

• KVNU, 610 AM
News, talk, sports
Owner: Cache Valley Radio Group

• KVFX, VFX 94.5, 98.3 and 104.7 FM
Top 40
Owner: Cache Valley Radio Group

• KLZX 95.9 FM
Classic rock
Owner: Cache Valley Radio Group

• KGNT KOOL 103.9 FM
Oldies
Owner: Cache Valley Radio Group

• QBLQ Q92 92.9 FM
Adult standards
Owner: Cache Valley Radio Group

• KKEX Kix 96 96.7 FM
Country
Owner: Cache Valley Radio Group

• KLGN Memories 1390 1390 AM
Music of your life
Owner: Cache Valley Radio Group

• KYLZ 104.9 FM
Classic Country
Owner: 3 Point Media, which has a joint sales agreement with Cache Valley Radio Group

• KACH
Timeless favorites, local news and sports
Owner: Alan White

• KUSU 91.5 FM (KUSR 98.5 FM) Utah Public Radio
News, commentary, musical variety
Owner: Utah State University

---

E-mail: mikewennergren@yahoo.com