KBIO

Infobox Radio station
name = KBIO-FM


city = Natchitoches, Louisiana
area =
branding =
slogan = "A Christian Voice In Your Home"
frequency = 89.7 MHz
airdate =
share =
share as of =
share source =
format = Christian radio
erp = 100 watts
haat =
class = A non-commercial
facility_id = 85510
coordinates = coord|31|47|13.00|N|93|07|52.00|W|region:US_type:city- Currently
coord|31|53|22.00|N|92|48|50.00|W|region:US_type:city- Construction permit
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = Radio Maria, Inc.
licensee =
sister_stations = KNIR,KBEI,KOJO,WHJM,WULM
webcast = [http://www.radiomaria.org/media/usa.asx Listen Live]
website = [http://www.radiomaria.us radiomaria.us]
affiliations = Radio Maria

KBIO (89.7 FM, "Radio Maria") is an American radio station in Natchitoches, Louisiana relaying the programming of station KJMJ of Alexandria, Louisiana and airs the English language version of Radio Maria USA airing Catholic programming.

History and Facilities

KBIO began life as a construction permit issued to American Family Association, A Christian values based organization to start a relay station in Natchitoches. The group however decided to sell the radio station in 2001 apparently concentrating on the more powerful KAVK signal from Many, Louisiana to fill the void of them not building the radio station.

It was finally licensed in 2006 by the FCC at 90 meter HAAT with only 100 watts of power ERP giving Radio Maria a small coverage area from a tower in Northwest Natchitoches. However most stations operate on a construction permit and information is unavailable on actual first air date.

In 2007, Radio Maria was granted a construction permit to increase power to 10,000 watts ERP and a new height of 100 meters at a location half way between Natchitoches and Winnfield, Louisiana

A fundraising "Mariathon" moderated by Father Stenzel is scheduled for October 14,15 and 16 of 2008 to procure additional operating funds for KBIO,its sister stations and audiostream. The World Family of Radio Maria's mission is to venture forward to start additional stations worldwide and no longer provides supplimental funding for KJMJ,its repeaters and other USA operations...hence the need for additional local support.

External links

* [http://www.radiomaria.us Official Radio Maria USA site (with streaming audio)]
* [http://www.radiomaria.it Official Radio Maria Italy site]
* [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=kbio&sr=Y&s=C KBIO technical info from Radio-Locator website.]
*FMQ|KBIO
*FML|KBIO