KRPI


KRPI is a radio station broadcasting a multicultural format serving the South Asians residing in Metro Vancouver. The station is owned by BBC Broadcasting, Inc., doing business as Sher-E-Punjab Radio Broadcasting Inc., headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia in Greater Vancouver.

History

The station went on the air as KOQT-AM on September 30, 1963. Power was increased to 10 kW day with nighttime operation at 10 kW from a new transmitter site in 1976. The call letters were amended to KNTR-AM on 1984-08-13. On 1998-10-22, the station changed its call sign to KCCF, on 2002-08-09 to the current KRPI. The station previously broadcast a Christian music format.
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.
Sunday Mornings KRPI carries Baptist programming and on Sunday nights Commonwealth Club of California.
On May 24, 2012, KRPI received a construction permit from the FCC to change its city of license from Ferndale, Washington to Point Roberts, Washington and to increase its nighttime power to 50 kW. This move is expected to improve reception in Metro Vancouver. The move to Point Roberts has attracted concerns from residents of Point Roberts and the adjacent community of Tsawwassen, British Columbia citing potential interference with electronic devices and health concerns.
On August 6, 2014, the CRTC denied Sher-E-Punjab radio of a new AM frequency licensed to Canada. On November 28, 2016, the CRTC approved Sher-E-Punjab radio for a broadcasting licence to operate an AM radio station on 600 kHz, with a daytime and nighttime power of 10,000 watts.