It was September 2023, during preparations for the annual Don's Bingo event organized at the Rocky Han community center, when two former broadcasters agreed on an idea that Marina needs a radio station. Steve Emerson and Dusan Tatomirovic realized that while the city was growing, its local narrative was being lost in the broad signals of Monterey and Salinas.
What began as a conversation over bingo tables quickly evolved into a mission. Drawing on their collective broadcasting experience, Steve and Dusan envisioned a "hyper-local" outlet that could serve as a digital town square. They brought the concept to The Marina Foundation, aligning the station’s goals with the Foundation's pillars of education, culture, and public safety.
The road from concept to airwaves involved navigating the technical rigor of the FCC’s Low-Power FM (LPFM) licensing. By securing the 106.1 MHz frequency, they ensured the station—branded KFTO-LP or Fort Ord Radio—would be a dedicated resource for Marina’s 25,000 residents.
Today, KFTO-LP stands as a testament to that initial spark in the Rocky Han center: a grassroots, volunteer-run station where local news is the priority and every resident has a voice.
Fort Ord Radio 