Submit a Program Proposal
We love hearing your ideas for new programs! Before submitting, let’s determine if KFAI is a good fit for you!
KFAI Mission Statement
KFAI is a volunteer-based community radio station that exists to broadcast information, arts, and entertainment programming for an audience of diverse racial, social, and economic backgrounds. By providing a voice for people ignored or misrepresented by mainstream media, KFAI increases understanding between peoples and communities while fostering the values of democracy and social justice.
About KFAI
Founded in 1978, KFAI is a registered 501(c)(3) noncommercial educational (NCE) media organization whose financial support comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), local, state, and federal grants, underwriting and sponsorship, and through the generosity and good-will of listeners and members.
KFAI’s volunteer-powered 24/7/365 broadcast is known for its eclectic entertainment and public affairs programming that features nearly 90 programs in nine languages, with roughly 83 programs produced locally and in-house. People of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, and many intersectional identities lead more than 50% of the programs on the broadcast schedule, making KFAI one of Minnesota’s most culturally and socio-economically diverse broadcast media outlets.
Beyond the broadcast, KFAI supports community building through developing, hosting, presenting, and sponsoring arts, entertainment, and cultural events across the Twin Cities.
Volunteer Culture
KFAI is home to passionate, creative, and well-connected community leaders whose energy powers our mission to bridge intercultural and intergenerational divides. As a noncommercial educational radio station, our programming covers a wide range of subject matter produced and delivered by volunteers under the requirements set forth by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
FCC guidelines regarding Educational and Informational Programming
To implement the CTA’s educational and informational programming mandate, the Commission has adopted a “core programming” processing guideline that applies to commercial and noncommercial educational television licensees. Under Category A of the processing guidelines, television licensees are eligible for routine staff-level approval of the children’s television programming portion of their renewal applications if they air either (i) three hours per week (as averaged over a six month period) of Core Programming or (ii) 156 hours of Core Programming annually, including at least 26 hours per quarter of regularly scheduled weekly programming of at least 30 minutes in length and up to 52 hours annually of Core Programs of at least 30 minutes in length that are not aired on a regularly scheduled weekly basis, such as educational specials and regularly scheduled non-weekly programming. Under Category B of the processing guidelines, television licensees are eligible for routine staff-level approval of the children’s television programming portion of their renewal applications if they air 156 hours of Core Programming annually, including at least 26 hours per quarter of regularly scheduled weekly programming of at least 30 minutes in length. The remaining Core Programming hours under Category B (up to 52 hours annually) may consist of Core Programs that are not aired on a regularly scheduled weekly basis, including educational specials, other non-regularly scheduled programming, and regularly scheduled non-weekly programming, and short-form programming, such as public service announcements and interstitials.
Core programming is defined as follows:
- Educational and Informational. The programming must further the educational and informational needs of children 16 years old and under (this includes their intellectual/cognitive or social/emotional needs).
- Specifically Designed to Serve These Needs. A program is considered “specifically designed to serve the educational and information needs of children” if:
- that is its significant purpose;
- it is aired between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.;
- it is a regularly scheduled weekly program, except that a licensee may air a limited amount of programming that is not regularly scheduled on a weekly basis, including educational specials and regularly scheduled non-weekly programming, and have that programming count as Core Programming, as described in the Core Programming guidelines.
- it is at least 30 minutes in duration, except that a licensee may air a limited amount of short-form programming, including public service announcements and interstitials, and have that programming count as Core Programming, as described in the Core Programming processing guidelines.
Sound cool? Then, please proceed!
