A lower-powered FM radio station planned for the University of North Florida is in financial limbo after UNF’s student government denies its funding.The radio station is requesting nearly $39,000 to go toward an FCC approved low power FM construction permit that was granted at the beginning of 2014 but the student government has denied that funding.
The station has an 18 month window to get funding and have all equipment installed before the permit is revoked and probably gone forever.
Student body present Joseph Turner says Spinnaker Radio doesn’t need the money.
“I personally didn’t support this because Spinnaker Radio has a $200,000 fund balance that they could use to fund this project internally, and this means that this project does not have to be done on the backs of students and with student fee money,” Turner said.
Spinnaker Radio’s station manager, Scott Young contends the $200,000 is either spoken for or reserved for emergencies and he says this is not an emergency.
“They look at it as it’s a funding pool, we look at it as it is an emergency net," he said. "With the lack of funding consideration through student government we’re presented with a challenge and the opportunity of engaging the local community, student body and engaging the University of North Florida itself outside of student government funding to see if there are perhaps alternatives.”
Young says the project is still very much alive and moving forward despite the student government’s decision.
You can follow Lindsey Kilbride on Twitter @lindskilbride.
