News
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POWER LINE OUTAGE DISRUPTS ONE OF SUMMIT COUNTY’S BROADCAST BACKBONES
SPRTV Announces Downtime for Several Over-the-Air Radio and TV Signals
Summit Public Radio & TV (SPRTV) has confirmed a long-term power line outage at its Bald Mountain transmission site, interrupting the rebroadcast and over-the-air signals of multiple radio and television stations across Summit County.
The Bald Mountain transmitter, maintained and powered by SPRTV’s nonprofit and all-volunteer organization, is a backbone for communications in the High Country. From that mountaintop in Breckenridge, SPRTV’s antenna transmits Front Range, regional, and local radio and television signals, enabling residents and visitors to receive public and commercial broadcasts for free.
For some, SPRTV’s mountain transmission hub is more than a signal — it is a lifeline to connection and information. It carries trusted news, music, entertainment, cultural and educational programming, Spanish-language content, and emergency alerts to those who might otherwise be cut off by terrain, cost, or limited broadband.
The outage underscores the need for infrastructure upgrades to ensure reliable and equitable public access to essential information in mountain communities. However, a fix is more complex: the site has been operating on a power line that is more than 40 years old.
Recent troubleshooting and fault isolation indicate that the failure originates in the upper segment of the power line, located in the “Baldy Bowl” area. This section lies in extremely rugged, high-elevation terrain. With freeze cycles and winter now approaching, repairs cannot be made until summer 2026 at the earliest, pending weather and safe access.
While the power line has been operating far beyond its expected lifespan, SPRTV has made significant progress on a new power line to supply the transmission site. A substantial portion of cable has been installed, and along a more sustainable route, thanks to the “Power the Tower” campaign and local funding. The project has involved extensive permitting, environmental review, and engineering work, all conducted in accordance with county and federal regulations.
“We have done the work, followed every rule, and are truly close to the finish for the new power line,” said Neil Groundwater, Engineer and Board VP of SPRTV. “We remain ready to complete the final phase as soon as the necessary conditions and permissions allow. Our goal is to bring reliable, free broadcasting back to Summit County as quickly and safely as possible.”
The organization emphasized that partner stations’ cable, satellite, and streaming feeds remain unaffected. However, over-the-air reception will remain down until power can be restored to the SPRTV Electronics Site on Bald Mountain. Independent stations with their own or alternate transmitting sites are not impacted.
“Our mission has always been simple — keep Summit County connected,” said Sue Greene, Board President of SPRTV. “We have been rebroadcasting over-the-air signals supporting equitable access to public television, culture, world-class jazz, classical music, sports, news, and Spanish-language programming for years. Those transmissions reach the High Country because of the Bald Mountain transmission site and a dedicated team of volunteers.”
Greene noted, “Completing the new power line is an urgent and the most sustainable priority for SPRTV and for Summit County. In the meantime, we are still here for the community we serve and are working hard behind the scenes to ensure a return to the airwaves this summer.”
Keep on top of the power outage
Updates will be posted on SPRTV.org, social media, and the SPRTV newsletter, while progress summaries will be shared directly with partner broadcasters, supporters, and the community.
See the list of SPRTV’s affected partner radio and television stations, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about the power line here.
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SPRTV SERVICE UPDATE: POWER LINE REPAIRS DELAYED UNTIL SUMMER 2026
Latest status: Following the power line failure this past fall, the SPRTV team and our partners worked diligently to restore service. Seasonal road closures, snowfall, and frozen ground have now made our mountaintop site inaccessible for the winter. Repairs are postponed until conditions allow safe access, expected in summer 2026. We know how important these signals are, and we appreciate your patience as we work toward restoration.
What this means, right now: Until repairs can resume, SPRTV’s over-the-air radio and television rebroadcast services will remain off the air.
Our team remains committed to restoring service as soon as possible once weather and access permit. We’ll continue to share updates here as progress is made.
For more information and progress, please stay connected to the Powerline Update Page.
What happened?
SPRTV confirmed a long-term power line outage at its Bald Mountain transmission site on September 26, 2025, interrupting the rebroadcast and over-the-air signals of multiple radio and television stations across Summit County.
Troubleshooting and fault isolation determined that the upper segment of the power line in the “Baldy Bowl” area failed. However, a fix is complex: the site has been operating on a power line that is more than 40 years old.
The Bald Mountain transmitter is a backbone for communications in the High Country, carrying trusted news, music, entertainment, cultural and educational programming, Spanish-language content, and emergency alerts to residents and visitors who might otherwise be cut off by terrain, cost, or limited broadband.
The outage highlights the need for infrastructure upgrades to ensure reliable and equitable public access to essential information in mountain communities. Repairs cannot be made until summer 2026 at the earliest due to rugged terrain and winter conditions.
While the power line has been operating far beyond its expected lifespan, SPRTV has made significant progress on a new power line to supply the transmission site. A substantial portion of cable has been installed, and along a more sustainable route, thanks to the “Power the Tower” campaign and local funding. The project has involved extensive permitting, environmental review, and engineering work, all conducted in accordance with county and federal regulations.
Cable, satellite, and streaming feeds remain unaffected, and SPRTV remains committed to bringing reliable, free broadcasting back to Summit County as quickly and safely as possible.
Updates will be posted on SPRTV.org, social media, and the SPRTV newsletter, while progress summaries will be shared directly with partner broadcasters, supporters, and the community.
See the list of SPRTV’s affected partner radio and television stations, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about the power line here.
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POWER OUTAGE
On Friday, September 26, the power line to SPRTV’s Bald Mountain Electronics Site failed. This is the old buried line that has served the communications system for over 40 years.
All SPRTV FM radio and Over-the-Air Television services are off the air.
SPRTV volunteer engineers were able to troubleshoot the outage and narrowed the failed segment to the uppermost stretch, closest to the Electronics Site on Bald Mountain.
Professional electricians expect to access the site this week. We will report when we know more.