KUCI began broadcasting, initially as an illegal pirate radio station, in 1968. Led by UCI student Richard Privette, KUCI broadcast from a dormitory and barely reached all of the campus. KUCI was granted its broadcast license on November 25, 1969, transmitting 10 watts of power at 89.9 FM. The first news broadcast occured in 1972, and the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day in 1974.  KUCI moved from its original frequency of 89.9 fm to its current frequency of 88.9 fm on August 20, 1981. Below are a few photographs of the “station,” taken on February 22, 1974.

AS-061. University Communication Photographs. Special Collections and Archives, the U.C. Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.