KOTO Radio

Since 1975, KOTO has served as the sound of Telluride, providing trusted information, local news, music, community and more. Almost entirely listener-supported, your donations help keep KOTO on the air.

PROCLAMATION (2025)

“A PROCLAMATION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF TELLURIDE, COLORADO HONORING KOTO ON ITS 50th ANNIVERSARY.”

WHEREAS KOTO Radio celebrates 50 years on the air as a noncommercial, non-underwritten community radio station, and

WHEREAS KOTO lost 25 percent of its budget during this milestone year and is still smiling through the tears, and

WHEREAS KOTO’s mission to inform, educate and entertain while reflecting the needs, desires and diversity of its community has remained the same since first entering the airwaves on October 3, 1975, and

WHEREAS KOTO remains a pillar of Telluride culture as the last outpost of freewheelin’ mountain town mischief, non-conformist creativity and freedom of expression (despite attempts by the federal government to silence us), and 

WHEREAS KOTO will work to protect civil liberties, embrace varied experiences and give the middle finger to anyone who threatens to pull funding because of it, and

WHEREAS KOTO has a liquor license and knows how to use it, and

WHEREAS KOTO continues to provide the region with high-quality programming, local news and a microphone to anyone who walks through the door, and

WHEREAS KOTO dutifully fulfilled its most important responsibility as an essential service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will never let you forget it, and

WHEREAS KOTO celebrates the treasured volunteer DJs who are the heart and soul of the radio station and show up for their shifts 91.7 percent of the time, and

WHEREAS if it weren’t for the vision of our founding fathers – Jerry Greene and Jim Bedford – or the dedication of KOTO stalwarts such as NoMan, Jerry Bonafiglio, The Burd, Bobalouie, The Flying Fero, Hectic Eclectic, Roadhawg, KP, Rockin’ Rob and The Luci Show, KOTO would likely not exist today, and

WHEREAS KOTO Radio proudly marks a half century on the air in October 2025, please join us in celebrating a nonprofit organization that supports an entire community...

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF TELLURIDE, COLORADO, THAT KOTO COMMUNITY RADIO BE RECOGNIZED FOR ITS INVALUABLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FABRIC OF SAN MIGUEL COUNTY AND FOR 50 GLORIOUS YEARS ON THE AIR, INCLUDING THIS YEAR (DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES).

Telluride Town Council, as read by Mayor Teddy Errico

Tuesday, September 30th, 2025