DATE: Wednesday, October 15, 1997           TAG: 9710150526

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NAGS HEAD                         LENGTH:   59 lines

PUBLIC RADIO FOR ALBEMARLE BEING EXPLORED

The first step in a process that could bring public radio to Dare, Tyrrell and other Albemarle area counties takes place at 11 a.m. Friday at the Nags Head Fire Station.

Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight, D-Dare, will be joined by representatives of WUNC-FM Radio in Chapel Hill to see if a public radio station would be possible in the Albemarle region.

The amount of public support at Friday's hearing could play a vital role in making public radio a reality, Basnight said.

``Public radio allows free debate and criticism,'' Basnight added. ``It provides news on topics that impact the world and affect us locally. It also provides classical and other forms of music that people in this area enjoy.''

Basnight, who readily admits he is a fan of public radio, said it provides a window to the world for many, and provides perspective on national and world events.

``They explain what's going on in places like Rwanda, why these things occurred, and explains why it's important. For many of our older folks who are shut in, it provides news and entertainment.''

Lawmakers approved funding for a new tower for the University of North Carolina television station in Columbia.

The Federal Communications Commission would have to approve the new station. Tentatively, plans are to use the new Columbia antenna and an aerial at Roanoke Island Festival Park. A local office for the station is also a possibility, Basnight said.

Bill Davis, general manager of WUNC, said he is excited about the possibility of expanding into northeastern North Carolina. But he offered a word of caution.

``First off, there are legal and economic issues that have to be dealt with,'' Davis said Tuesday. ``We have to receive approval by the FCC. A public radio station on the Outer Banks is by no means a fait accompli.''

Davis said the amount of money needed for the new station is unknown now.

``We have to get money to build a transmitter and facilities,'' Davis said. ``There is a possibility that we could use an existing tower, or there's the possibility of working with a private entity in a public/private partnership. There are a number of permutations that could come into play. But this is going to be a two- to three-year process to determine if we're able to do this. But we're excited about the possibilities. We're always looking to expand into areas that are not served or are underserved by public radio.''

If public radio clears the legal and financial hurdles, the station would include local news and entertainment programming, Davis said.

``Our goal is to include a mix of National Public Radio programming with WUNC-FM programming and some local programming from the Outer Banks and neighboring counties,'' Davis said. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

PUBLIC MEETING

A meeting to discuss the feasibility of a public radio station on

the Outer Banks will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Nags Head Fire

Station. Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight, D-Dare, will be

joined by WUNC-FM radio staff to answer questions and provide

information on public radio. The meeting is open to the public.

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