Newsradio 1450 KONP has expanded its service to the FM band.

KONP recently acquired an FM translator and obtained Federal Communications Commission approval to rebroadcast the station’s format at 102.1 on the FM dial.

Nationally, the FCC has allowed only a few dozen AM radio stations to rebroadcast on FM translators. This is the first in Washington state.

The FCC is beginning to allow this in areas where increased interference has hampered AM radio reception.

Generally, FM translators are limited to rebroadcasting other FM stations.

Under the FCC agreement with KONP, the FM signal is not allowed to reach farther than KONP’s current AM signal, but the nature of FM will allow many people to receive the broadcasts who either can’t get the AM signal or don’t normally turn to the AM band, said KONP general manager Todd Ortloff.

AM signals often fade at night due to changes in the atmosphere.

Fluorescent lights and building materials also hamper AM reception.

FM signals are not susceptible to that fading.

KONP keeps the Port Angeles and Sequim communities informed with immediate access to news at 1450 AM, 102.1 FM and streaming live on the Internet at www.konp.com.