Steve Funk, the general manager at KNVC 95.1 FM, Carson City Community Media, has been around Northern Nevada for a long time. He moved here in the late ’60s and graduated from Carson High School in the same year that Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973. He went on tour with a professional band that summer, and then returned home to study broadcast journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. He worked at several local radio stations including KUNR, the University of Nevada, Reno’s NPR affiliate; and KTHX, “The X,” Reno’s late, lamented and legendary alternative-rock station. Funk retired and began volunteering for the independent, all-volunteer, nonprofit community radio station KNVC FM 95.1 in Carson City, where he is now the general manager. He still plays music with his friends in the blues band the Wabuska Yachting Club—“to keep my sanity in these crazy times,” he said. KNVC operates from the historic Adams House in Carson City, which is owned by Carson Tahoe Hospital. The house is for sale, and KNVC has launched a capital campaign to raise funds to purchase it. To donate or to learn more, visit knvc.org.
What is KNVC’s history?
The radio station has been broadcasting 24 hours a day since March of 2017 from our studios in the historic Adams House, located at 990 N. Minnesota St., in Carson City. It’s a 103-year-old craftsman style structure built in 1922 by local family man Dewitt Adams from a Sears and Roebuck catalog kit.
What is the station’s focus?
Well, since our first broadcast in 2017, we’ve built a volunteer community of more than 50 creators who contribute locally oriented news, perspective and music-discovery programming in diverse styles and genres. We air family-friendly programs about science, philosophy, arts, popular culture, food and music, as well Indigenous news and culture, and programming for other marginalized populations. KNVC is also the (Federal Communications Commission)-designated public safety emergency alert system broadcast center for the Carson/Minden/Gardnerville region, and we sit in the communications chair on the local emergency planning committee with all regional first responders.
Tell me about the most interesting or surprising thing that’s happened at the station under your watch.
The most surprising thing is the way this community embraces this eclectic little radio station. The world of community radio is a stunning reminder of what radio was originally designed to do, and that is connect with people on a really personal level, sharing culture, and celebrating the good works of local nonprofits, the business community and local government. I get beautiful letters and emails, and when I am out and about, I hear personal stories from listeners. The support we receive is a gift that I can’t even put words to. It’s just off the charts.
Tell me about the capital campaign and fundraising efforts to buy the Adams House.
We learned late last year that our tenancy in the Adams House is at risk, as our landlord, the Carson-Tahoe Hospital Foundation—whom we thank for allowing us the space to incubate this community resource—must sell the historic house and property. Home means Nevada, right? Well, this is our home, so we’ve decided to take on this challenge and, with the love and support of the citizenry, to purchase the building if we can raise the funds. We are busy at it, but only have until the end of June to get it done! We’re gaining financial support from many quarters—like personal connections with community-minded givers and groups, on-air appeals and a “Buy the House” GoFundMe campaign. $450,000 is a huge lift for a small nonprofit in a small town, but this region is full of folks with big hearts and big aspirations for a better-connected, stronger and more resilient community for their families and generations to come. We’re building this thing for the future, and we have big dreams, and are willing to do the work. I hope everyone can see the future and wants to be a part of it.