The radio station of the University of North Texas, KNTU-FM, is celebrating 40 years of broadcasting and teaching.

KNTU “The One” (88.1) began broadcasting Nov. 3, 1969, with the help of Ted Colson, chairman of the department of speech and drama, and Bill Mercer, the first general manager.

“Students have been the real reason we’ve started the station and been an integral part,” said Russ Campbell, the current general manager.

The station is staffed with 50 to 75 students, paid and unpaid.

The goal is to continue to provide an industrial standard environment where students can learn about broadcasting, Campbell said.

The jazz station started out using analog and vinyl.

Now, it is digital and has a presence on the Internet, he said.

The station began broadcasting at 450 watts in 1969 and is now broadcasting at 100,000 watts.

A 40th anniversary celebration will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 6 in the ballroom of UNT’s Gateway Center, 801 North Texas Blvd. UNT’s One O’clock Lab Band will perform.

Tickets are $30 per person. Reservations must be made by 5 p.m. Friday.

For more information or to make reservations, call 940-565-2554 or visit www.kntu.com .

—Rachel Mehlhaff