KRPI (1550 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a radio format in Hindi, Punjabi and other South Asian languages for listeners in Metro Vancouver. It is licensed to Ferndale, Washington, and airs news, talk and Bollywood music. KRPI is owned by BBC Broadcasting, Inc.,[1]
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By day, KRPI transmits with 50,000 watts (the maximum for commercial U.S. AM stations), but at night, it reduces power to 10,000 watts to avoid interfering with other stations on 1550 AM. It uses a directional antenna at all times, with a three-tower array, pointed at Vancouver. The transmitter is on Imhoff Road in Ferndale, about 10 miles (16 km) from the Canada–United States border.[2]
The station signed on the air in May 1963; 60 years ago (1963-05). The original call sign was KOQT. It was a daytimer, with 1,000 watts and was required to go off the air at night. Power was increased in 1976 to 10,000 watts day and night, using a directional antenna after sunset, from a new transmitter site. The call letters were switched to KNTR on August 13, 1984. For a time, the station broadcast a Christian radio format.
On October 22, 1998, the station changed its call sign to KCCF. On August 9, 2002, it changed callsigns to the current KRPI.[3]
Previously carried from 2004-2020 Sher-E-Punjab, 2001-2004 Radio Punjab, 1994-2001 Apna Sangeet. It formerly carried Baptist programming and Commonwealth Club of California. Apna Sangeet was formed by Sukhdev Singh Dhillon in 1994. In 2001, Apna Sangeet became Radio Punjab International. In 2004, Radio Punjab accused rival Sher-E-Punjab of broadcasting on its AM 1550 frequency. After legal struggles, Radio Punjab moved to a different AM frequency. Sher-E-Punjab took over Radio Punjab.
On May 24, 2012, KRPI received a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change its city of license from Ferndale to Point Roberts, Washington, and to increase its nighttime power to 50,000 watts.[4] This move was meant to improve reception in Metro Vancouver. The move to Point Roberts attracted concerns from residents of Point Roberts and the adjacent community of Tsawwassen, British Columbia, citing potential interference with electronic devices and health concerns.[5] The transmitter move did not happen and the station remains in Ferndale.