DATE: Tuesday, July 29, 1997                TAG: 9707290300

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

IT MAY BE YEARS BEFORE PUBLIC RADIO REACHES THE OUTER BANKS

Dare County residents who have eagerly anticipated the arrival of public radio may have a long wait.

Although WTEB-FM public radio recently agreed informally with the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television to use its tower in Columbia to transport its radio signal to the Outer Banks, the deal hinges on approval by the legislature of a $7.1 million request to construct a new tower.

And it would take at least 1 1/2 years after funds were approved before the station could start transmitting from its new home.

``It's too much money (for UNC-TV) to replace the tower,'' said Harvey Arnold, the associate director of transmission engineering for UNC-TV. ``If the state does not support us on this project, we just can't move forward with it.''

Dare County officials announced at a March meeting that WTEB had agreed to transmit its public radio programming to the barrier islands. At that time, it was hoped that the station would be on the air in August.

The station, based at Craven Community College in New Bern, is an affiliate of National Public Radio and Public Radio International. Broadcasting since 1984, WTEB focuses on classical music, news and public affairs.

The funding request made it into the Senate's budget bill, but is absent from the House version, said Kyle Armentrout, an aide to Sen. Marc Basnight, D-Dare. The bills are currently being debated in conference negotiations.

Kathleen Beal, WTEB general manager, said the 100,000-watt station is in the process of applying to the Federal Communications Commission for a license to broadcast on an FM frequency to Dare County. The handshake agreement with UNC provides the radio station with a base.

``They just won't let you carte blanche get a license,'' Beal said. ``You have to have a location.''

The present 1,000-foot tower, built around 1965, is made of hollow tubular steel, rather than solid steel, said Arnold. Because it's not galvanized, it is rusting.

``It's an old structure in a corrosive environment very close to the Albemarle Sound,'' Arnold said. ``Whenever there's a storm that comes through, we get nervous.''

Arnold said the Federal Aviation Agency recently granted the public broadcasters permission to build a new tower 600 feet higher than the current tower. If the state appropriated the funds, the new tower could be completed in about two years, Arnold said.

But if the money is not forthcoming, Arnold said, it could be difficult for public radio to get its signal to the remote Outer Banks. The present structure is filled tocapacity with antennas and transmitting equipment, he said. The range and clarity sought requires that WTEB's equipment be at least 1,200 feet off the ground.

With the new high-definition television coming, Arnold said, a new tower will be needed soon anyway.

But while state lawmakers battle over the budget, broadcasters may be vying for the available frequency. Beal said she is aware of at least one other non-commercial broadcaster, a religious network, that may have applied for the band that WTEB is seeking.

Arnold said it is to both public broadcasters' advantage to work together to get better non-commercial access to the Outer Banks.

``It's an area where we felt it would be very beneficial for public TV to support public radio,'' he said. ``Especially in areas that are not served.''

Public radio broadcast from the Hampton Roads area sometimes can be heard on the Outer Banks, but it is undependable.

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