Sac State’s troubled Capital Public Radio sees website go down over domain payment glitch
Capital Public Radio’s troubles mounted Tuesday as the operation’s website went down temporarily because of difficulties finding a way to pay its domain fee to GoDaddy.com.
“Capital Public Radio’s website is back online after resolution of an issue that caused the media outlet’s website and content streaming to go down on Tuesday, Oct. 24,” Sacramento State officials said in a statement. “The shutdown was caused by a payment authorization issue that was quickly remedied.
“The missed payment was not caused by lack of funds. Rather, it was because GoDaddy, which controls the online domain, requires payment by credit card and, as CapRadio works to recover its financial health, it is not utilizing credit cards to make payments.
“Sacramento State — which holds the broadcasting license used by CapRadio, a university auxiliary — now has operational control of CapRadio and followed required procedures to make the domain payment, which, with penalties, was about $100.”
The National Public Radio affiliate has been beset by financial troubles and layoffs that resulted from mismanagement and an aggressive expansion plan that would have moved the operation to two downtown buildings, according to a scathing California State University audit released Oct. 4.
Since the release of the audit, Sac State has announced it will oversee CapRadio’s operations — except for its programming and journalism content — and has seen most of its board of directors resign.
The audit found problems that included credit card charges not being reviewed properly, questionable practices involving car donations and gifts to the operation and a failure to involve more Sac State students in its operations.
University officials also raised concerns about CapRadio contracts involving board members or their relatives and the fact that the operation had an unauthorized CapRadio endowment fund that included a Lake Tahoe-area timeshare.
Sac State says the operation was in such financial disarray that it may be insolvent by January, and university officials opposed an effort by the board to bring in a new general manager.
The operation currently is being run by interim General Manager Tom Karlo, who was brought in Aug. 15 at the urging of Sac State President Luke Wood.
Sacramento State holds the license for CapRadio, which operates KXJZ-FM (90.9) and KXPR-FM (88.9) and a network of repeater stations, including KUOP-FM (91.3). CapRadio also manages North State Public Radio, which has two stations owned by Chico State.
