KFRO-FM

KFRO-FM (95.3 FM; "95.3 The Well") is a terrestrial American radio station, licensed to Gilmer, Texas, United States, broadcasting a Christian teaching format as "94.3 & 95.3 The Well". The station serves the Longview-Marshall area, is in full simulcast with its sister station KZXM Bullard, and is owned by the Educational Radio Foundation of East Texas, Inc.[1]

For the original AM radio station in Longview, Texas, United States, see KFRO (AM).
KFRO-FM
CityGilmer, Texas
Broadcast areaLongview-Marshall area
Frequency95.3 MHz
94.3 MHz KZXM Bullard, Texas (simulcast partner)
Branding95.3 The Well
Slogan The Voice of Life
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatChristian
Ownership
OwnerEducational Radio Foundation of East Texas, Inc.
Sister stationsKLJT, KMPA, KZXM, KVNE, KGLY
History
First air dateSeptember 9, 1980 (as KNIF)
April 20, 2020 (as "The Well")
Former call signsKNIF (September 9, 1980-December 4, 1986)
KAEZ (December 5, 1986-September 16, 1990)
KLSQ (September 17, 1990-February 28, 1993)
KFRO-FM (March 1, 1993-December 6, 1998; February 15, 1999-current)
KCGL (December 7, 1998-February 14, 1999)
Call sign meaningKeep Forever Rolling On, Longview (Loaned from former AM sister station when then owner J.R. Curtis Jr. launched Oldies format "FROggy" on this facility)
Technical information
Facility ID14755
ClassC3
ERP5,900 watts
HAAT203 meters
Transmitter coordinates32°37′50″N 94°53′44″W
Links
Websitemywellradio.com

History

The station went on the air as KNIF on September 9, 1980, originally owned by Jack Daniels. It was sold to Rick Reynolds and became KAEZ on December 5, 1986. On September 17, 1990, the station changed its call sign to KLSQ, on March 1, 1993 to KFRO-FM, on December 7, 1998 to KCGL, and on February 15, 1999 it returned to the current KFRO-FM,[2]

On August 1, 2016, KFRO-FM and sister stations KLJT, KMPA, and KZXM were taken off the air and the staff of those stations were let go and locked out without warning by Susie Waller, the daughter of the deceased owner of the station, Dudley Waller.[3] The website remained active through mid-August, but it was redirected to a "WordPress For Broadcasters" page due to the aforementioned lockout of staff,[4] plus it could no longer stream any live broadcasts. The staff for "The Morning Madhouse" show apologized and thanked their listeners as well as explaining the incident in detail on the show's Facebook page.[5]

On February 17, 2017, Waller Broadcasting filed for an extension of the Special Temporary Authority allowing KFRO-FM and its three sisters to remain silent for an additional 180 days. The application also stated that a buyer had been found for the station, and was expected to announce a deal to transfer the four stations licenses, pending F.C.C. approval, within the next 30 days.[6]

On July 3, 2017, KFRO-FM returned to the air (simulcasted by KLJT) as "Fun Radio 102.3 & 95.3", rebirthing the former CHR/Top 40 format it had as "The Breeze".

On October 31, 2017, the license transfer from Waller Broadcasting to East Texas Results Media was granted for KFRO-FM and its three sister stations, KZXM, KMPA, and KLJT. The deal was consummated on March 8, 2018, at a purchase price of $1.2 million.

On June 10, 2019, East Texas Results Media filed to transfer the license of KFRO-FM and its three sister stations to Educational Radio Foundation of East Texas, who in turn has applied to turn all four facilities non-commercial. The Foundation broadcasts Christian programming.

"Fun 95.3 & 102.3" left the air in mid-July 2019, pending transfer of the licenses.

The sale of KFRO-FM, and its 3 sister stations was consummated on October 9, 2019, with ERFET officially taking control of the licenses and facilities. ERFET has announced that KFRO-FM will no longer simulcast KLJT once it returns to the air, breaking the simulcast that had been in place for over a decade.

Educational Radio Foundation of East Texas announced that they would launch a full service Christian teaching format on both KFRO-FM and KZXM, branded as "The Well". The new format launched on April 20, 2020.

References
  1. "KFRO-FM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. "KFRO Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. East Texas Stations Lock Out Staff & Go Dark - Radio Insight (published August 2, 2016)
  4. ITMWPB | Just another WordPress site - WordPress (accessed August 17, 2016)
  5. First of all we want to apologize... - "The Morning Madhouse" Facebook page (posted Monday August 1, 2016 at 6:15PM)
  6. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101751552&formid=910&fac_num=57204
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