KSQM, Sequim’s nonprofit community radio station, will be increasing its power today, Oct. 23, from 700 to 1,200 watts —  significantly increasing the station’s coverage area.

To do so, the station will be going off the air at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning, with transmissions resuming at 5 p.m. that day. The shutdown allows engineers to move the transmitter from the foothills above Sequim to a new transmission facility and tower site in the Blue Mountain foothills between Sequim and Port Angeles.

FCC rules require the power increase to be implemented in two phases. After FCC review, the station will be allowed to boost that power to 2,400 watts — a process that will take a few days to a week. During the Oct. 23 switch-over, listeners will be able to hear KSQM on a live Internet feed at www.ksqmfm.com.

The increase in power follows a year-long on-air campaign to raise $325,000 dollars to construct a new 155-foot tower on leased state land in the Blue Mountain foothills. Funds for the project have been donated by a combination of listener contributions, a charitable foundation grant and a grant from First Federal.

For more information, call Bob Schilling, general manager of KSQM 91.5 FM, at 681-0000.