The Elko TV District board voted Sept. 9 to decline a request from KUNR/KNCC for $87,000 in annual support for a locally hosted reporter and to reject a separate $29,000 request to move KNCC’s transmitter from Elko Mountain to Lamoille Summit. At the same meeting the board agreed to direct staff to study a lower‑cost option: carrying KNCC’s audio as a subchannel carriage on the district’s TV multiplex.

Why it matters: KNCC provides what station staff called the only local public radio reporting in the region; station leaders asked for short‑term bridge funding after federal cuts threatened their budget. Board members said they were sympathetic to the “news desert” problem but concluded the district cannot commit recurring payroll support while it pursues its own infrastructure and staffing plans.

KUNR/KNCC general manager Brian Dugan told the board federal rescissions this summer reduced public‑media funding and left a “gap in funding” that imperils the recently created local reporting role. Reporter Laurie Gilbert, who produces local coverage, told the board she did not solicit the district’s support and described local demand for news and student interest in journalism.

The station had requested two forms of assistance: an $87,000 annual subsidy to sustain the local reporting position, and a one‑time $29,000 payment to move and upgrade station equipment to Lamoille Summit. In committee, district staff and board members examined the technical coverage implications and a coverage study provided by KNCC: moving the transmitter could change the station’s coverage footprint and would not clearly extend reliable signal to some east‑side communities unless higher power were used. The district additionally noted a site policy limiting private FM broadcasts on district sites to around 250 watts effective radiated power.

During committee review, staff recommended the board decline recurring operational support but suggested the district could consider equipment assistance if the station experienced a sudden equipment failure. The board adopted that recommendation.

At the full meeting the board approved two formal decisions: to deny the $87,000 annual funding request and to decline funding the $29,000 relocation/upgrading expense. The board then approved a separate motion directing staff to explore a technical solution to carry KNCC audio on a TV subchannel. Technical operations staff described a likely approach: take an IP audio stream (or analog feed), inject it as an audio‑only subchannel on a PBS or similar nonprofit carriage, and distribute it over the TV translator network; staff estimated a capital cost of roughly $10,000 to acquire and install the necessary encoder/streaming equipment.

Peyton, technical operations staff, told the board: “We would end up just either taking an IP, audio stream if possible or an analog audio stream and piping it to our IP and injecting it as a black carrier, no video channel, just audio onto one of our channels.” Board members said the streaming approach could reach more local viewers who no longer rely on FM radio and could carry emergency notifications.

What’s next: The board asked staff to produce a proposal and cost estimate for the streaming option and to return with details at the next meeting. Board members said they would consider one‑time or emergency equipment assistance in the future if KNCC suffers hardware failures.

Ending: While declining the station’s recurring request, the board endorsed a lower‑cost, district‑run distribution option and asked technical staff to return a firm plan to the board for consideration.