KPND


KPND is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Deer Park, Washington, and serving the Spokane metropolitan area and the Inland Northwest. It is owned by Blue Sky Broadcasting and it airs an Adult Album Alternative radio format, which it calls "Progressive Radio for the Inland Northwest." KPND shares studios and offices with its sister stations at 327 Marion Avenue in Sandpoint, Idaho.

FM Signal

KPND was originally licensed to Sandpoint, but was allowed to move its city of license into the Spokane radio market in 2008. It increased its effective radiated power to 56,000 watts from a tower in the Hoodoo Mountains of Northern Idaho, more than 2500 feet in height above average terrain. With a good radio, its signal can be heard in parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. The new pattern's downside is that it has significant dead spots due to the terrain of North Idaho that the old signal covered. In Spokane, the signal is mostly listenable, with the strongest points being the Northside and the South Hill. Spokane Valley's lower elevation results in significant signal chopping.
In April 2011, KPND began simulcasting on 106.7 KTPO in Kootenai, Idaho. The move alleviates signal issues within Bonner County of KPND due to the rugged terrain. KPND is also heard on translator station K296BJ 107.1 MHz with an ERP of 34 watts, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

History

On May 19, 1980, the station first signed on. It originally was only powered at 1,000 watts, with a signal that could only be heard in and around Sandpoint. It featured a middle of the road format. KPND was put on the air by the Blue Sky Broadcasting Company, which still owns it to this day.