Why isn't 95.5 WBRU with all the other college stations below 92 on the dial

[Skynet74]

Is WBRU not really considered a college station? Is that why they get a commercial dial position? I had always thought that if you were a college you could not have a frequency above 92.1. So how and why was WBRU able to get a commercial license when other colleges can't? I've always been curious about this.

 

[jlehmann]

WBRU isn't the only college station above 92.1, and it isn't even the only commercial college station. Others above 92.1 include Harvard's 95.3 WHRB, Princeton's 103.3 WPRB. Other commercial college stations include Yale's 94.3 WYBC and the University of Florida's 103.7 WRUF-FM.

Technically, 95.5 WBRU isn't owned by Brown University, it's owned by "Brown Broadcasting Service," which someone else may be able to explain better than I can.

 

[N1WVQ]

A non-commercial entity may operate on any frequency. Only commercial stations are prohibited from 87.9-91.9. There are no prohibitions on non-commercial operations. In fact, some allotments above 91.9 are labeled as non-commercial use only (see channel 221A-Provincetown, Ma.). Why the B.B.S. got 95.5, I dunno. As far as I know, it's the same license as WJAR-FM all those years ago. "Brown" just happened to buy it around 1965 or so. 2 commercial college stations in Florida are WRUF-AM-FM. So, no, Brown University has no radio station. Maybe if they opened up 76.1-87.7.

 

[w9wi]

Is WBRU not really considered a college station? Is that why they get a commercial dial position? I had always thought that if you were a college you could not have a frequency above 92.1. So how and why was WBRU able to get a commercial license when other colleges can't? I've always been curious about this.

Non-commercial stations may operate on any frequency, it's just that frequencies below 92 are reserved for their use.

That said, while WBRU is owned by an educational institution (or at least an organization controlled by that institution's students?) WBRU is a commercial station. As such it's required to operate above 92MHz.

There's nothing to prevent a non-profit organization from owning a commercial broadcast station. In Chicago, the local PBS TV station also owns a commercial classical music FM station.

My guess is that after World War II, a commercial operator activated 95.5 FM. By the early 1950s, most FM stations were losing money hand over fist - many of them surrendered their licenses for cancellation. My guess is the commercial operator donated the 95.5 FM station to Brown University rather than simply liquidating the operation.

 

[w9wi]

My guess is that after World War II, a commercial operator activated 95.5 FM. By the early 1950s, most FM stations were losing money hand over fist - many of them surrendered their licenses for cancellation. My guess is the commercial operator donated the 95.5 FM station to Brown University rather than simply liquidating the operation.

I just went back and looked it up.

There was a WJAR-FM authorized on 95.5 in 1948. It seems to have surrendered its license sometime between 1952 and 1955. (as did MANY other FM stations)

In 1955 a WPFM shows up on that frequency, owned by "Plantations Broadcasting". The station was sold in 1958, and then transferred again to Brown in 1965. (I can't tell whether it was donated or sold. Seems to me FM was beginning to pick up again by 1965 so I'm not so sure an FM owner would have given a station away by then.)

 

[raccoonradio]

Some non-comm college stations moved to the part of the band above 92 MHz. Boston area's WRBB/Northeastern
and WBRS/Brandeis were both at 91.7, IIRC and moved to 104.9 and 100.1 respectively ( may have had to do with
FCC rule getting rid of many/all sub-100-watt signals below 92)

Certainly some public stations are above 92; the Vermont Public Radio outlet at 107.9 in Burlington area comes to mind

 

[w9wi]

Some non-comm college stations moved to the part of the band above 92 MHz. Boston area's WRBB/Northeastern
and WBRS/Brandeis were both at 91.7, IIRC and moved to 104.9 and 100.1 respectively ( may have had to do with
FCC rule getting rid of many/all sub-100-watt signals below 92)

Certainly some public stations are above 92; the Vermont Public Radio outlet at 107.9 in Burlington area comes to mind

Yes, that's another way some college stations ended up above 92. "Class D" stations were required to either increase power to Class A or find a way to move above 92MHz; many did the latter.

A very small number of Class D operations do continue below 92. They were allowed to stay if they couldn't find a frequency above 92 but they're secondary to new Class A (or higher) non-commercial stations. They can lose their channels if a higher-powered station gets in the way.

 

[VelvetR]

My guess is that after World War II, a commercial operator activated 95.5 FM. By the early 1950s, most FM stations were losing money hand over fist - many of them surrendered their licenses for cancellation. My guess is the commercial operator donated the 95.5 FM station to Brown University rather than simply liquidating the operation.

Memory says that The Outlet Company donated the former WJAR-FM to what was then known as "Providence/Barrington Bible College" (or name very similar) when they found FM to be a loser. It was then sold to Plantations...I recall an involvement with Judge Harold C. Arcarro who was involved in Providence's first UHF channel (WNET, I think Channel 16 originally) and after that faded away, in the initial iteration of what became WTEV-6 in New Bedford. The WPFM site was on Smith Hill just back of the State House with a self-supporting tower. Mort Blender used to do a classical music program Sunday nights. It was while Mort's taped show was running Verdi's "Requiem" that an engineer (whose name I know but will leave out) fried himself to death while working inside the transmitter. The station subsequently was sold to a group somehow affiliated with Brown but I can't recall whether it was first to the university itself then to a separate group. At the time of the dead engineer incident Bob Stone was PD. He later went on to WXCN but where, after that, I have no idea!

 

[w9wi]

Memory says that The Outlet Company donated the former WJAR-FM to what was then known as "Providence/Barrington Bible College" (or name very similar) when they found FM to be a loser. It was then sold to Plantations...I recall an involvement with Judge Harold C. Arcarro who was involved in Providence's first UHF channel (WNET, I think Channel 16 originally) and after that faded away, in the initial iteration of what became WTEV-6 in New Bedford. The WPFM site was on Smith Hill just back of the State House with a self-supporting tower. Mort Blender used to do a classical music program Sunday nights. It was while Mort's taped show was running Verdi's "Requiem" that an engineer (whose name I know but will leave out) fried himself to death while working inside the transmitter. The station subsequently was sold to a group somehow affiliated with Brown but I can't recall whether it was first to the university itself then to a separate group. At the time of the dead engineer incident Bob Stone was PD. He later went on to WXCN but where, after that, I have no idea!

A Harold Arcaro is listed as President of WPFM in 1963. At the time the station was listed as an affiliate of the CRB Network (which I would presume means WCRB Waltham/Boston?) and using the "Fine Music FM Broadcasters" as their rep firm. (which seemed to represent classical-music stations)

I note in the 1966 Yearbook the WPFM calls appear on 94.1 - which is listed as simulcasting WHIM AM 1110 30%, and with the same ownership as owned WPFM in 1963. Judge Arcaro is still listed (now, with his title) as president of the firm. The calls were changed to WHIM-FM by the 1967 YB.

In the 1963 YB Joseph LaFreniere is listed as PD. The later listings are incomplete.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

Memory says that The Outlet Company donated the former WJAR-FM to what was then known as "Providence/Barrington Bible College" (or name very similar) when they found FM to be a loser. It was then sold to Plantations...I recall an involvement with Judge Harold C. Arcarro who was involved in Providence's first UHF channel (WNET, I think Channel 16 originally) and after that faded away, in the initial iteration of what became WTEV-6 in New Bedford. The WPFM site was on Smith Hill just back of the State House with a self-supporting tower. Mort Blender used to do a classical music program Sunday nights. It was while Mort's taped show was running Verdi's "Requiem" that an engineer (whose name I know but will leave out) fried himself to death while working inside the transmitter. The station subsequently was sold to a group somehow affiliated with Brown but I can't recall whether it was first to the university itself then to a separate group. At the time of the dead engineer incident Bob Stone was PD. He later went on to WXCN but where, after that, I have no idea!

A Harold Arcaro is listed as President of WPFM in 1963. At the time the station was listed as an affiliate of the CRB Network (which I would presume means WCRB Waltham/Boston?) and using the "Fine Music FM Broadcasters" as their rep firm. (which seemed to represent classical-music stations)

I note in the 1966 Yearbook the WPFM calls appear on 94.1 - which is listed as simulcasting WHIM AM 1110 30%, and with the same ownership as owned WPFM in 1963. Judge Arcaro is still listed (now, with his title) as president of the firm. The calls were changed to WHIM-FM by the 1967 YB.

In the 1963 YB Joseph LaFreniere is listed as PD. The later listings are incomplete.

Any idea when 94.1 WHIM became WHJY (JOY-94) or was there something in between.

Yes, you young-ins 94 HJY was elevator music at one piont and used the logo JOY 94.

Sorry someone always seems to email me with why a rock station called itself JOY when this subject comes up.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

Yes, you young-ins 94 HJY was elevator music at one piont and used the logo JOY 94.

And the smooth, mellow voice-over announcer for "Beautiful Music" 94.1 WHJY?

("Our Friends Call Us Joy!")

None other than the late Steve White.

 

[Skynet74]

Yes, you young-ins 94 HJY was elevator music at one piont and used the logo JOY 94.

And the smooth, mellow voice-over announcer for "Beautiful Music" 94.1 WHJY?

("Our Friends Call Us Joy!")

None other than the late Steve White.

Would love to hear that old ID. Anybody have that on tape?

 

[ROBGv1]

WELH shares 88.1 with Brown.

 

[N1WVQ]

No, WELH leases airtime to Brown Student Radio.

 

[riradio02842]

No, WELH leases airtime to Brown Student Radio.

Since we're on the topic of WELH - does anyone know if they've upgraded their signal yet? They have a CP to boost their wattage from 150 to 1200. I guess with the death of analog 6 there's some room for growth.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

Since we're on the topic of WELH - does anyone know if they've upgraded their signal yet? They have a CP to boost their wattage from 150 to 1200. I guess with the death of analog 6 there's some room for growth.

Speaking of Construction Permits......

Any word on the 1370 CP for Charlestown?

Alex Langer's 1140 CP for Greenville? This one would involve a 6 tower array to be built in Harmony, just off of Route 44. With the economy such as it is......I'm not sure we should hold our breath waiting for this one!......LOL.