Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Five years of hard work has paid off for Peach City Radio.

President Dave Del Rizzo announced Tuesday the community radio society has successfully acquired an FM broadcast licence.

"We are overjoyed with the decision this week from the CRTC,"  he said. "We are very proud to have attained this licence and to be the first community-run station in the Okanagan, something long overdue in the area. We are looking forward to making this station happen for the citizens of Penticton."

On Monday, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission released its decision approving Peach City's application for the low-power English language community station.

Starting next year, it plans to broadcast a 49.9 Watt signal under the call letters CFUZ at 92.9 MHz on the FM dial.

The society is currently seeking funds to purchase transmission equipment and hopes to reach its $30,000 goal this year. It's also looking for a suitable studio location.

"The goal is that within six months we will have a studio equipped and be broadcasting live to Internet stream," said Del Rizzo. "This will give our volunteers and our organization the experience necessary to facilitate a seamless transition from online and podcast format to live FM broadcasting."

Currently, Peach City Radio streams online 24 hours a day, but changing to a live studio format will take some getting used to.

Close to 30 volunteers are now experienced community radio hosts and DJs, but more will be needed to fill the promised 106 local hours of content.

"We truly feel that Peach City Radio over the FM airwaves will change how people interact within our community. We'll build the infrastructure and have a station in place allowing citizens to provide the content and interact directly with the community on the FM dial," said Del Rizzo.