ST. GEORGE — The Federal Communication Commission has revoked the license of FM radio station KRDC from Dixie State College.
Joe Peterson, the dean of arts, letters and science, said the school failed to broadcast actively for a 12-month period, an FCC rule for educational radio.
"Through some staffing quirks, a retirement and some waiting time in filling positions, the station went unattended," Peterson said.
President Robert Huddleston said the station's broadcasting has been spotty for more than seven years and that its role as a student laboratory was losing support.
"There really aren't very many entry-level positions in broadcasting available, and they don't pay well," Huddleston said. "It's really not an occupational priority for us."
Peterson said there are only seven students enrolled in next semester's radio production class at the St. George school.
"So it (radio production) is really not a cranking thing," he said.
Some St. George residents, represented for a time by retired banker John W. Allen, tried to rally support for the station as a community asset.
"But President Huddleston, whom I have great respect for, said the college intends to do what it can get the license back at some point," he said.
Peterson confirmed the college might reapply for the license, although it likely would have a better chance at trying to acquire a new frequency.
"I understand it's easier to get a new license that to renew one, especially when you've lost one the way we have," Peterson said. "It's an indication of neglect, if you let your license lapse."
Several colleges and universities are the licensees of radio frequencies in Utah, most notably KUER at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, KUSU at Utah State University in Logan, and KBYU at Brigham Young University in Provo.
KRDC, however, had a very small broadcast range, extending for only a couple of miles around campus.
E-mail: mtitze@desnews.com