By Seth Garner
Student Reporter
Amarillo College’s FM90 is officially back at full power and broadcasting at 100,000 watts for the first time in more than a year.
During College Radio Day on Oct. 3, FM90 Program Director Amy Presley announced that the station was operating at full capacity once again after dropping to around 2,500 watts in May 2024 following a transmission line failure.
According to Presley, operating at low power created several challenges because it limited how far the signal could reach, limiting how well the station could serve the community. FM90’s 100,000-watt transmitter provides one of the largest coverage areas in the Panhandle, with a service radius of about 70 miles. Returning to full power is also important for safety, since FM90 broadcasts federal weather alerts across the region.
The project, which ended up totaling around $250,000, was approved by the AC board of regents in August 2024, but progress moved slowly. Broadcast Engineer Dameion Duran, who led the technical work, said the project was a massive undertaking. Problems with the tower’s transmission line meant both the tower and the building’s internal air conditioner had to be replaced. He said the station’s rare amplifier tubes had to be rebuilt as well.
“It gave me goosebumps when we finally flipped it back on,” Duran said. “The most satisfying part was seeing the smiles, hearing the audience feedback and knowing we’re doing right by everybody. We’re broadcasting at full capability and it means FM90 is dedicated to sticking around. We’re not going anywhere.”
Presley called the project her “love letter” to FM90, one that reminded her and our community of this station’s importance. “It is rewarding to know the college and the community care so much about our little radio station,” Presley said. “This validated that what we do matters. People missed FM90 and now we’re back where we belong. I’m thankful for our board of regents who approved the money. I’m grateful to them for seeing FM90’s potential, our legacy and what we have to bring for the future students. I feel like I can sleep at night just knowing it’s finished.”
Duran said listeners should notice the difference in both audio quality and reception. “Driving through downtown or even heading out toward Canyon, you’ll be able to pick us up again. We’ve probably tripled or even quintupled our coverage compared to the backup.”
After months of repairs and a few setbacks along the way, Duran said getting FM90 back up to full power reminded him why he loves what he does. “This is my passion, and to know that we’re not only satisfying listeners, but also giving students a real radio learning experience at full power, it’s incredible,” Duran said.
FM90’s Student Music Director and host of “Good Times Radio” Evan Banner said operating at low power made it more difficult to connect with listeners. “A lot of people didn’t even hear about events or promos because the signal was so low,” Banner said. “Now that we’re back, it’ll sound way better and it’ll help broaden our audience. It makes FM90 feel special because not every station gets that kind of power anymore. It opens up doors to opportunities and gives us the confidence to do something really cool with this. Hearing it on the radio just feels different. It’s like going to the movie theater, you’re sharing that experience with others in real time. Being at 100,000 watts makes me want to make my show sound really big.”
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