Black History Month: Meet the self-proclaimed Media King

What would you do if you didn't like what was played on your radio station? You probably would just change the channel. What if you didn't like your connectivity? You'd probably just change the company that you're using. 

In this bonus episode of Connected Nation for Black History Month, we'll introduce you to one man who actually started his own radio station and his own ISP simply because he felt like it was needed. 

Recommended links:

Media King Communications website

Chapters

• 0:59 Media King Communications
• 4:23 What it's like to start a radio station
• 7:23 Working in telecommunications and business
• 9:24 Future for the two businesses

Transcript

Jessica Denson (00:08):

Let me ask you a question. What would you do if you didn't like what was played on your radio station? You probably would just change the channel. What if you didn't like your connectivity? You'd probably just change the company that you're using. Well, I'm going introduce you to one man that I met at the Broadband Nation Expo, who actually started his own radio station and in his own ISP simply because he felt like it was needed. I'm Jessica Denson, and this is Connected Nation. 

I'm at the Broadband Nation Expo taking place in Orlando, Florida, and a young man came up to me, William King, who is with, uh, Media King Communications, which is an ISP and a radio company. So talk about really what media king communications is, what you're over.

William King (01:00):

Well, uh, media Communication is basically a communication company where we focus on, uh, internet infrastructure and providing internet service for, uh, uh, for those that live, uh, in that community. Uhhuh,

Jessica Denson (01:11):

<affirmative>,

William King (01:11):

Omaha Community Broadcasting is another company that runs, which is a non-profit, which operates 95.7 of Bosch radio stations. So we have a for-profit and a non-profit, um, one operating radio, the other operating, uh, internet.

Jessica Denson (01:26):

That's interesting. How did you get into the two different areas of, uh, business?

William King (01:31):

Well, you know, the radio started back Ooh, in the early, uh,

Jessica Denson (01:36):

Take us back <laugh>

William King (01:37):

2019 or 29, 2 0 0 9 Uhhuh

Jessica Denson (01:40):

<affirmative>,

William King (01:41):

And I built my first station on my house. I used Part 15 technology.

Jessica Denson (01:44):

Oh, that's cool.

William King (01:45):

Um, I heard about Hamilton Range Masters, and those are, uh, transmitters that, um, um, that about 10th of a wat of power,

Jessica Denson (01:55):

Uhhuh a

William King (01:55):

Hundred milliwatts. And so I built it on my house and I created my, my first radio station. Then after apps started coming in real good Uhhuh. So I got connected with one of my friends, uh, sons, and he developed my first app. He was a 90-year-old out of Morehouse.

Jessica Denson (02:12):

Oh, that's, oh, wow. Yeah. That's, that's prestigious school.

William King (02:14):

Yeah. Yeah.

Jessica Denson (02:15):

And

William King (02:15):

Then, uh, I heard about 2011 our Congressman Lee Terry was working on the lo was writing the local Community Radio Act, uhhuh, which would give nonprofits for the first time in the history of, of America opportunity to, uh, own radio stations. 

So I followed that process through the three years where that legislation went through the house came out for public, uh, notice I participated in the rules making, went to the Senate, uh, came out again for rule making, did it, and went on to Obama, and Obama signed to law. And that was really one of the last time where Republicans, Democrats

Jessica Denson (02:49):

Work together, <laugh> work together. Yeah. <laugh>. Oh, we y all they need to work together. Together. Yeah. Like

William King (02:55):

About 2014. So when Obama signed that into law, um, so we've been broadcasting, we're the oldest running black owned station in, uh, Omaha history, well, in Nebraska history. Um, and then the internet started when, uh, COVID, you know,

Jessica Denson (03:13):

Uhhuh <affirmative>

William King (03:14):

Trump first administration. Uh, there was a need for, you know, internet, you know, kids was at home. And so they created the, uh, what's that? Uh, I think the a CA, uh, Uhhuh American Something Act, whatever it was. And so I applied and, uh, I knew a young lady I went to college with at Midland

Jessica Denson (03:35):

Uhhuh <affirmative>. She

William King (03:35):

Was a Native American. And so I knew it was gonna be a lot of competition as far as getting that money, but I knew for a fact since, uh, we still deal with racism,

Jessica Denson (03:45):

Uhhuh,

William King (03:45):

I knew they wasn't gonna focus on black areas or Native American areas.

Jessica Denson (03:49):

Right.

William King (03:50):

So I applied, no one would compete against me, and, and I got it.

Jessica Denson (03:55):

Fantastic.

William King (03:56):

So, uh, I was able to build infrastructure on the Indian reservation in Macy Nebraska, uh, in an Omaha tribe. And so that's how I got into to both technologies.

Jessica Denson (04:04):

Now. That's super cool.

William King (04:05):

Now, the goal is to build an Omaha, Nebraska, where I grow up at

Jessica Denson (04:10):

Uhhuh,

William King (04:10):

And where we actually have our radio station. And, and we could focus on, on the, the, the non served,

Jessica Denson (04:17):

You know, uhhuh, the underserved. I wanna, I wanna explore a lot of what you said here, if that's all right. That's fine. First off, the radio station, what made you say, I wanna start my own radio station? Was there, do you just love broadcasting or what was it?

William King (04:28):

Well, you know, I, I took advantage of that act. Um, and we didn't have a black owned radio station in Omaha, you know, and so that, that has always driven me. And when I heard about this, this act that our congressman was writing, uh, he didn't look like me. 

He wasn't from my same party, but he made sure when that legislation passed, uh, he mentioned my name when, uh, uh, on the floor of, of the congression.

Jessica Denson (04:53):

That had to feel great.

William King (04:54):

Oh, yeah. Without a doubt.

Jessica Denson (04:55):

Yeah. And going across party lines and working together is really what it's supposed to be about, right. Without doubt. Mm-hmm <affirmative>. Yeah. Yeah.

William King (05:02):

It is necessary. Um, we supposed to have checks and balances, but we should have respect for each other.

Jessica Denson (05:07):

We should have respect

William King (05:08):

For during no checks and balances.

Jessica Denson (05:09):

A hundred percent. A hundred percent. So, uh, for you, you saw a need, you saw this opportunity and you put those two together.

William King (05:17):

Yeah.

Jessica Denson (05:17):

And is that really kind of how your mind works?

William King (05:19):

Yes. I doubt. Um, my mom couldn't read and write

Jessica Denson (05:22):

Uhhuh <affirmative>,

William King (05:23):

And so, um, but she had a PhD in Common Sense

Jessica Denson (05:28):

<laugh>. I love that. Yeah.

William King (05:30):

So, um, you gotta take advantage of every opportunity, no matter if, uh, if it fails or not. Uhhuh. And so I try to take advantage of every opportunity that, that God presents to me, because I, I feel, and I truly believe that, that God is, is sending those opportunities to me, is up to me to manifest 'em.

Jessica Denson (05:49):

Whether you take those steps or not. Yeah. Yeah. So what kind of stuff do you broadcast on your, your radio station?

William King (05:54):

Well, urban Contemporary Station,

Jessica Denson (05:55):

Uhhuh <affirmative>.

William King (05:56):

But one unique thing we do my morning show, all I do is play local music from all around the country.

Jessica Denson (06:01):

Oh, that's cool.

William King (06:02):

And so we break records. We break records, uh, and we, and we, uh, let our neighbors manifest their God-given talents by, you know, by putting 'em on our network

Jessica Denson (06:12):

And helping actual people from the community. Yeah. That's fantastic.

William King (06:15):

Uh, since we're a nonprofit station, we had that flexibility versus commercial stations. They, they're a little bit more stringent in their playlist.

Jessica Denson (06:22):

Uhhuh <affirmative>. Okay. So now let's go to the ISP. How did, how did you, you said that the, your friend was native that, that you connected with. Yeah. How did you, how did you guys connect and go, okay, this is, let's make this happen.

William King (06:33):

Well, you know, Kyle went to college in the eighties, and when I heard about this opportunity, I contacted her

Jessica Denson (06:38):

Mm-hmm <affirmative>.

William King (06:38):

Because you need someone from the tribe to, to, to get you in the door.

Jessica Denson (06:42):

Right.

William King (06:43):

Um, and she was able to do that. Um, we received about a quarter million dollars from the Trump administration. We built four towers on the Indian reservation, and we're using book of the equipment right now,

Jessica Denson (06:55):

Uhhuh <affirmative>. And, uh, so what tribe is

William King (06:58):

That? The Omaha tribe?

Jessica Denson (06:59):

Omaha. The Omaha tribe.

William King (07:00):

They call it Omaha.

Jessica Denson (07:01):

Omaha. Omaha,

William King (07:02):

Yeah. That's how they pronounce it. But it's Omaha Uhhuh, but,

Jessica Denson (07:04):

And so where is that based, like compared to Omaha, Nebraska? Where would that be?

William King (07:09):

That's north west of Omaha, about 70 miles.

Jessica Denson (07:12):

Uhhuh

William King (07:12):

<affirmative>. It's been in between Omaha and Sioux City.

Jessica Denson (07:14):

Is it a very rural area? Is that a little bit of a challenge?

William King (07:17):

Yep, yep, yep.

Jessica Denson (07:18):

Yeah.

William King (07:18):

So, uh, of course it's rural, that population up, there's by about 800 some people. Mm-hmm <affirmative>. So that's on the reservation.

Jessica Denson (07:23):

So, so for you, are you really focused on the business end and then you use people who know how to do the telecommunications? Or are you learning that too?

William King (07:31):

I'm learning a A to Z, A

Jessica Denson (07:32):

To Z,

William King (07:33):

A to Z and, and even high sweet floors if I had to uhhuh, uh, but no A to Z. So it is always good to have knowledge in all areas, even though I'm not the expertise,

Jessica Denson (07:42):

Uhhuh, <affirmative>,

William King (07:42):

I at least have some knowledge where you'll get, you know, hustled or scammed.

Jessica Denson (07:45):

Yeah. I got you. So talk a little bit about yourself. What was your background? You said your mom didn't, uh, know how to read or write, but she had a PhD in common sense. Right. So you were raised in a, at a very, I take it loving, open, good household. Oh, yeah, yeah. What I doubt. Talk about your background.

William King (08:00):

Yeah. What I doubt, uh, dad, air Force Mom, uh, of course, uh, I was born in Riverside, California,

Jessica Denson (08:08):

Uhhuh

William King (08:09):

On March Air Force Base. Moved to Omaha when I was three months old. So I claim Omaha.

Jessica Denson (08:13):

Mm-hmm

William King (08:14):

<affirmative>. Um, since I've been there almost 59 and a half years. Really? Um, so that's

Jessica Denson (08:20):

Why I, you look 39.

William King (08:22):

Oh, thank you. Thank you. So, um, like I said, my mom couldn't read and write, so, but she was my first challenger. I didn't even even know that she was even challenging me. 'cause my, my nickname is, man. And so

Jessica Denson (08:33):

Your nickname's what?

William King (08:33):

My, my nickname is Man

Jessica Denson (08:35):

Uhhuh <affirmative>.

William King (08:35):

So when, uh, my, like I said, I remember I, I think I probably first, second grade I could start comprehending, you know, reading a little bit Uhhuh. So I would read the mail for her. And if I, if I didn't know a word, she said, boy, why am I sending you to school <laugh>? I said, mama, I said, mama, my name ain't no boy <laugh>. My name is man.

Jessica Denson (08:54):

So, oh, I love it.

William King (08:55):

<laugh>. So indirectly she was challenging me to, to be better. So what I did, I went to school and I learned that word, and I came back and I knew it. Mm-hmm <affirmative>. So she was my first challenger, but indirectly she was using common sense, uh, by, uh, by challenging me,

Jessica Denson (09:08):

Uhhuh

(09:08):

<affirmative>.

William King (09:09):

And, and, and I know for a fact that's how I'm bred today. Um,

Jessica Denson (09:13):

Which is great to have somebody who challenges you. 'cause it helps you grow.

William King (09:17):

I doubt.

Jessica Denson (09:17):

Yeah.

William King (09:18):

Yeah. So my work ethic is to be better than I was yesterday. So that's what my mama taught me.

Jessica Denson (09:22):

Mm-hmm <affirmative>.

William King (09:22):

To be better than I was yesterday.

Jessica Denson (09:24):

So what, what's ahead for the two businesses now? What are you thinking for the future?

William King (09:29):

Well, you go, the goal is to build an Omaha metropolitan area, uh, to provide some LTE or some type of CRS, uh, solution, since this is gonna be a metropolitan area. Uh, I already got the connections already from the Omaha's perspective. Uh, I came to this conference to, to meet some of the, uh, some of the other vendors to, to see if I get better deals on equipment. Uhhuh, <affirmative>, uh, sometimes you gotta know people.

Jessica Denson (09:52):

Yeah. <laugh>.

William King (09:53):

Uh, and then also I wanted to meet some of the national partners, like the at t's to see how we can, can do business too.

Jessica Denson (09:59):

How you might partner with them and stuff. Yeah. And I've never been to Omaha, Nebraska. What, what, what is for somebody who's never been there, what, what do should you know about it?

William King (10:07):

Well, Omaha, Malcolm, Mexico from Omaha, he was born there. Uh, the best zoo in the world is in Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha is Ley Doley Zoo.

Jessica Denson (10:16):

Oh, really? Yeah,

William King (10:16):

It is. It's the best zoo in the country. Bet without doubt. Uh, Warren Buffett is from Omaha.

Jessica Denson (10:22):

Oh,

William King (10:23):

Terrence Crawford. The, the, the best boxer in the world is from Omaha,

Jessica Denson (10:27):

Muhammad Ali. I live in Louisville, Kentucky. And Muhammad Ali's from there.

William King (10:31):

Yeah, he could,

Jessica Denson (10:31):

So he'd give him a run for his money, I think.

William King (10:33):

Okay. Well, I don't think nobody could be Ali. So, <laugh>.

Jessica Denson (10:36):

<laugh>.

William King (10:37):

Um, and so, um, and plus it, it's a great community far as just just race, family and stuff like that.

Jessica Denson (10:42):

Uhhuh <affirmative>,

William King (10:43):

Uh, we got great school district, uh, great medical facilities. Um, and then of course, you still, well, you know, deal with, uh, the left and the right because you got Republicans and Democrats.

Jessica Denson (10:53):

Yeah.

William King (10:54):

But, uh, we got a first black mayor.

Jessica Denson (10:56):

That's, that's

William King (10:57):

Wonderful. Uh, so

Jessica Denson (10:58):

Breaking you're breaking barriers there. Yeah.

William King (11:00):

Right. Doubt still, you know, continuing to, uh, grow mm-hmm

Jessica Denson (11:03):

<affirmative>. So, uh, a lot of the states have money through bead mm-hmm <affirmative>. Um, are, do you talk to the state leaders at all?

William King (11:09):

Yeah. Uh, the bead, I've thought about applying for it, but I didn't

Jessica Denson (11:15):

Uhhuh <affirmative>.

William King (11:16):

Um,

Jessica Denson (11:19):

There's too much,

William King (11:21):

Um, I know there's, there's a lot of, uh, red tape and stuff like that when it comes to, to, to the beat. The, the, the first funding source that they gave through the, the, uh, that first act where, where, uh, Trump, it was

Jessica Denson (11:32):

The American Act.

William King (11:33):

Yeah. But yeah, it was a lot easier to, and to, to, to

Jessica Denson (11:37):

The rescue funds. That's what you're talking about.

William King (11:38):

Yeah. Yeah. To get those dollars in order to Bill

Jessica Denson (11:40):

Uhhuh <affirmative>. But

William King (11:40):

Now they added a little more, more stringent,

Jessica Denson (11:43):

Which is hard for a small ISP.

William King (11:45):

Right.

Jessica Denson (11:45):

Yeah. Yeah.

William King (11:46):

So I, I'm still, you know, there's still other areas of the government that provide internet, you know, support like, uh, the USDA,

Jessica Denson (11:55):

Uhhuh <affirmative>.

William King (11:55):

So, and there's other departments that we're looking at to get funded.

Jessica Denson (11:58):

Yeah. The USDA does a lot of good things. Mm-hmm <affirmative>. In, uh, especially rural areas. Yep. Yeah. Um, so William, uh, I really appreciate your time and with us and have enjoyed my conversation. What do you want people to remember about you and your organization?

William King (12:13):

Wow. There was trendsetters, uh, that we had the ability to, uh, work with anyone, uh, and then also had the ability to learn from everyone.

Jessica Denson (12:23):

Oh, I love that. That's a great way to leave it. Thank you so much, William King.

William King (12:26):

I appreciate you.

Jessica Denson (12:30):

We'll continue our coverage from the Broadband Nation Expo on future episodes of Connected Nation. Until then, I'm Jessica Denson, and this is Connected Nation.