KROX-FM

KGID Giddings

On May 10, 1984, Radio Lee County, Inc. received a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to build a new FM radio station at 101.7 MHz. It signed on as KGID, licensed to Giddings, Texas.^[3]

It broadcast at 3,000 watts, a quarter of its current power, from a tower located between Bastrop and La Grange. That meant it could only cover the southeast communities of the Austin metro area, including the farming communities in and around Lee County. KGID aired a country music format, geared to listeners in this rural area of Texas.

KOKE-FM

The call sign switched to KOKE on April 6, 1990, changing to a Southern Gospel format. Radio Lee County received permission from the FCC to switch the frequency to 101.5 MHz, boost the station's effective radiated power to 38,800 watts from a tower at 560 feet in height above average terrain. That would extend the station's reach into the more lucrative Austin radio market. But Radio Lee County lacked the money to invest in the new tower and transmitter.

In 1995, Virginia-based Sinclair Telecable bought the station for $2.73 million.^[4] It completed the rebuild, switching the call letters to KROX-FM, while moving the studios and offices to Barton Springs Road in Austin.

101X, Austin's New Rock Alternative

The new station took the moniker 101X. It signed on as "Austin's New Rock Alternative" on June 8, 1995. Its main competition, at the beginning, was "K-Nack" 107.7 KNNC, the Austin market's original Alternative station. Both KROX-FM and KNNX were hampered by poor signals with neither able to achieve significant ratings. KNNC management decided to sell its station. The KNNC DJs were dismissed and, for a short time, KNNC simulcast KROX-FM. Eventually KNNC was sold and became classic rock "107.7 The Hawk." Today it is Latin Adult Contemporary KLJA.

The original DJs on 101X included Sara Trexler, former KNNC personalities Rachel Marisay and Ray Seggern, LA Lloyd Hocutt, Gibby Haynes, a member of the punk rock group The Butthole Surfers, and Austin Chronicle music critic Andy Langer. The morning show, "Jason and Deb," won the 2014 Austin Chronicle "Best Of" Poll.^[5]

In the late 1990s, 101X veered into active rock territory at the height of alternative radio's nu-metal period. It has since returned to a broader alternative presentation, closely associated with local Austin music scene and today's indie rock. In 1997, the station was sold to LBJS Broadcasting.^[6] LBJS was originally owned by the family of "L.B.J." or former President Lyndon Baines Johnson. That put KROX-FM into common ownership with KLBJ-FM, Austin's leading rock station, that specialized in mostly harder-edged classic rock.

In 2003, LBJS Broadcasting sold its radio stations to the Indianapolis-baed Emmis Communications, including KROX-FM.^[7] Although Sinclair Telecommunications continues to own 49.9% of the stations, with Emmis as the controlling partner. Also in the early 2000s, KROX-FM's city of license was switched to Buda, Texas.

Construction Permit

In 2014, Emmis filed for a construction permit to increase KROX-FM's effective radiated power to 86,000 watts. The tower will increase in height above average terrain to 320 meters (1,050 ft). This upgrade is expected to increase KROX-FM's coverage area significantly.

When built, the new signal will reach from Georgetown to the north, and as far as Gonzales and Seguin to the south. That would include the northern and northeastern suburbs of the San Antonio metropolitan area.