KZFR - Music · News · Information

Serving the Sacramento Valley, the Foothills, and Beyond!

KZFR Mission Statement

It is the Mission of KZFR to enlighten, entertain, inform and educate our listeners in support of community.

In order to do this, we will:

Train members of the community in best broadcasting practices and the use of the radio medium

Provide alternative news and information

Promote the expression of ideas without close creative control or commercial consideration

Maintain an organization that reflects the diversity of interests in the station’s broadcast area.

Develop working relationships with other community organizations

Cultivate a respectful and collaborative working environment

Develop adequate financial support from the listeners we serve

KZFR Community Radio is a noncommercial, nonprofit, public service organization dedicated to playing music and disseminating news and information. Our purpose is to entertain, educate, and to contribute to cultural appreciation and enlightenment. KZFR's programming reflects the needs of the Northern Sacramento Valley Communities. Most Programming is produced by members of our community and is community oriented. Programming produced outside our community provides information on issues affecting the Northern Sacramento Valley.

KZFR Community Radio operates with the support of approximately 120 community volunteers who provide a wide variety of music programming as well as local public affairs and information programs, and who assist a small paid management staff with fundraising, outreach and events for the northern Sacramento Valley and beyond. Agreement with the principles and goals of KZFR is the sole criteria for participation. We are guided by the spirit of the First Amendment. KZFR Community Radio is open to everyone. We are united in our diversity.

Historical & Technical Information

To the best of my knowledge folks, the following is true.

Eric Mathisen - the father of KZFR Erik Mathisen is known as the Founding Father of KZFR. What he originally set out to do in 1981, was to build a translator service to bring the signal of KPFA from Berkeley to the North State. His project veered off in a new direction when a KPFA volunteer asked, "Instead of taking our programming, wouldn't it be better to create programming that reflects your community?" At that moment Erik Mathisen set his sights on building a community radio station in Chico. It took nine years to secure the necessary permits and finances to build the station.

KZFR Community Radio began broadcasting July 6th, 1990 after years of hard work by some very dedicated pioneers. Erik Mathisen, host of "American Pastimes" playing Bluegrass & Folk Wednesdays from 3:00 'til 5:30 p.m., is regarded as the prime mover who got the ball rolling. Lee Edwards, of "Blues Everywhere" 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Lars Larson, "Dinosaur Hour" ('60's & '70's Rock) Fridays 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. are among the folks we honor for putting KZFR on the air. Please let me know the names of others who should be enshrined here in our "Hall of Fame".

Our transmitter is located on Nimshew Ridge, California, overlooking the Northern Sacramento Valley. KZFR Community Radio, FM 90.1, broadcasts with 6300 Watts of throbbing power !

If any of you techies out there know I'm wrong on any of this stuff, please let me know.

Maybe one of you "old-timers" could write about how programmers used to tape their shows, someone would drive up to the transmitting tower with the tape, and play the tape at our tower in order to broadcast the program. Do any of you have any stories about what it was like for you to do this task ?