DeKalb is known as the home of barbed wire and Cindy Crawford, but not necessarily a major hub for radio stations — a situation that has frustrated local listeners.

Many Chicago stations like Q101 (101.1 FM), B96 (96.3 FM) and The Loop (97.9 FM) aren’t received well in DeKalb because of federal laws, even though Chicago is just 70 miles away.

Bill Drake, program director for DeKalb Public Radio, said those stations are legally limited by the Federal Communications Commission as to how far their broadcasts may travel. FCC dictates how powerful the transmitters are and also puts height restrictions on stations’ antennas.

Students still try to tune in. Carlos Archila, a junior sociology major, listens to what he can of Q101.

“Radio stations around here suck,” he said.

He added that he would like to hear more alternative rock stations. Sophomore history major Courtney Duffy agreed.

“When I’m stuck in DeKalb, I listen to KISS FM (92.5 FM),” she said.

That station recently changed its name to Energy because another station currently uses the name KISS FM, a station representative said. The music also has changed — to a more techno-sounding style — but Energy remains a top 40 station, the employee noted.

Energy’s competition for DeKalb listeners includes Rockford’s WZOK 97.5 and NIU’s WKDI, a student station heard on television channels 8 and 20 in the residence halls at certain times of the day. Students also can listen to WKDI by purchasing a special stereo transformer for $1.29 at University Bookstore.

WKDI is unavailable to students living off campus except through its Web site (www.wkdi.org) because the station is having difficulty getting an FM license and locating a spot to build an antenna, said program director Lisa Jarrett, a junior general education major.

Jarrett said the problem lies in NIU already owning two FM stations, WNIU (89.5) and WNIJ (90.5). They air classical music and radio talk shows, respectively.

“NIU is being unfair,” Jarrett said, adding that it was her personal opinion and not that of the station. “None of the stations NIU owns service the students.”

WKDI general managerTukoi Jarrett, a senior communications major, said NIU would benefit from the generated revenue if it transferred WKDI to one of the radio frequencies NIU already uses.

“On other campuses like Georgia University in Atlanta, the college radio station is looked upon as the center of the community,” he said. “The college station beats out other commercial radio stations in the area.”