View source for WFCR

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Short description|Public radio station in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States}}
{{Infobox radio station
| city                = [[Amherst, Massachusetts]]
| country             = US
| above               =
| name                = WFCR
| logo                = File:New England Public Media Logo.png
| logo_size           = 200px
| logo_alt            = 
| logo_caption        = 
| area                = [[Pioneer Valley]] including [[Springfield, Massachusetts]]
| frequency           = {{Frequency|88.5|[[MHz]]}} {{HD Radio}}
| rds                 = 
| branding            = New England Public Media
| languages           = 
| format              = [[Public radio]]
| subchannels         = HD2: [[Classical music]]
| network             = 
| affiliations        = 
| owner               = [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
| licensee            = [[University of Massachusetts]]
| operator            = [[New England Public Media]] (under program service agreement)
| sister_stations     = '''TV:''' [[WGBY-TV]]
| founded             = 
| airdate             = {{Start date|1961|05|06}}
| last_airdate        = 
| former_callsigns    = 
| former_names        = 
| former_frequencies  = 
| callsign_meaning    = "[[Five College Consortium|Five College]] Radio"
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| facility_id         = 69304
| class               = B
| power               =
| erp                 = 13,000 watts
| haat                = {{convert|295|m|ft|sp=us}}
| coordinates         = {{coord|42.364|N|72.423|W|type:landmark_region:US-MA_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}
| translators         = [[WFCR#Translators|See § Translators]]
| repeaters           = 
| webcast             = {{listenlive|https://www.nepm.org}}
| website             = {{URL|https://www.nepm.org/}} 
}}

'''WFCR''' (88.5 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]) is a non-commercial radio station [[City of license|licensed]] to [[Amherst, Massachusetts]].  It serves as the [[National Public Radio]] (NPR) member station for [[Western Massachusetts]], including [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]].  The station operates at 13,000 watts [[Effective radiated power|ERP]] from a [[transmitter]] on [[Mount Lincoln (Massachusetts)|Mount Lincoln]] in [[Pelham, Massachusetts]], {{convert|968|ft|m|sp=us|abbr=off}} above average terrain. The [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]] holds the license.  The station airs NPR news programs during the morning and afternoon drive times and in the early evening.  Middays and overnights are devoted to [[classical music]] and [[jazz]] is heard during the later evening hours.

WFCR's broadcasting range extends to Western and Central Massachusetts, Northern [[Connecticut]] (including [[Hartford]]) as well as parts of Southern [[Vermont]] and Southern [[New Hampshire]].  WFCR's studios for most of its history were located at Hampshire House on the UMass campus. However, in 2013, the station moved most of its operations to the Fuller Building in downtown Springfield.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kinney |first=Jim |date=May 13, 2011 |orig-year=May 12, 2011 |title=Public radio station WFCR-FM plans move from Amherst to Springfield |url=http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2011/05/public_radio_station_wfcr_plans_move_to.html |publisher=masslive.com |access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref>

The station signed on May 6, 1961, as a [[simulcast]] of [[WGBH-FM]] in [[Boston]]. By 1962, it had severed the electronic umbilical cord with WGBH-FM, and by 1964 it had expanded its local programming to 17 hours per day. The [[Call sign|call letters]] originally represented "Four College Radio", becoming "Five College Radio" in 1966. It is a charter member of NPR, and was one of the stations that carried the initial broadcast of NPR's ''[[All Things Considered]]''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030427082330/http://www.wfcr.org/news.pdf ''Of Note''] newsletter from 2001 commemorating WFCR's 40th anniversary</ref>

While UMass has held the license since 1967, when it was acquired from the [[WGBH Educational Foundation]],<ref name="b-wfcrwgbhtoumass">{{cite news|title=For the Record|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1967/1967-05-29-BC.pdf|access-date=January 6, 2018|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|date=May 29, 1967|page=76}}</ref> WFCR has always received funding from the [[Five College Consortium|Five Colleges]] ([[University of Massachusetts Amherst|UMass Amherst]], [[Smith College]], [[Mount Holyoke College]], [[Amherst College]] and [[Hampshire College]]) as well as from fund drives conducted periodically over the air.  Since 2011, WFCR and [[sister station]] 640 [[AM broadcasting|AM]] WNNZ have called themselves ''New England Public Radio''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Clarence Fanto |url=http://www.benningtonbanner.com/business/ci_18100870 |title=Public radio station aims to transmit by fall |work=Bennington Banner |date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref>

WFCR claims the distinction of being the first radio station in Western Massachusetts to transmit a signal using [[iBiquity]]'s [[HD Radio]] system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdradio.com/stations|title=Local HD Radio Stations}}</ref> It airs two digital streams. The first is a simulcast of the analog signal, the second is a 24-hour classical music station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=64 |title=HD Radio station guide for Amherst, MA |access-date=February 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002042034/http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=64 |archive-date=October 2, 2015 }} HD Radio Guide for Amherst, MA</ref>

On April 11, 2019, WFCR announced that it would consolidate operations with WGBH-owned [[PBS]] station [[WGBY-TV]] (channel 57) under the [[New England Public Media]] banner, effective in July. UMass will retain the WFCR license, and the New England Public Radio Foundation will retain the licenses to WNNZ and its satellites; NEPM will operate the stations under program service operating agreements.<ref name="masslive-wgbywfcrnepm">{{cite news |last1=Kinney |first1=Jim |title=New England Public Radio, WGBY-TV in Springfield to merge; boosting local news coverage |url=https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/04/new-england-public-radio-wgby-springfield-to-combine-efforts-and-form-new-england-public-media.html |access-date=April 11, 2019 |work=[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|masslive.com]] |date=April 11, 2019}}</ref><ref name="current-wgbywfcrnepm">{{cite news |last1=Falk |first1=Tyler |title=New England Public Radio and WGBY to combine operations |url=https://current.org/2019/04/new-england-public-radio-and-wgby-to-combine-operations/ |access-date=April 11, 2019 |work=[[Current (newspaper)|Current]] |date=April 11, 2019}}</ref>

==Translators==
In addition to the main FM station, WFCR is relayed by five translators (FM), to increase its broadcast area.
{{RadioTranslators
| callsign = WFCR

| call1    = W242AT
| freq1    = 96.3
| fid1     = 142211
| watts1   = 250
| haat1    = -220.1
| class1   = D
| city1    = Williamstown, Massachusetts
| coord1   = {{coord|42|42|36.2|N|73|12|10.3|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=W242AT}}

| call2    = W252BG
| freq2    = 98.3
| fid2     = 142208
| watts2   = 13
| haat2    = 9.3
| class2   = D
| city2    = Lee, Massachusetts
| coord2   = {{coord|42|17|39.3|N|73|13|1.3|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=W252BG}}

| call3    = W254AU
| freq3    = 98.7
| fid3     = 142841
| watts3   = 250
| haat3    = -53.7
| class3   = D
| city3    = Great Barrington, Massachusetts
| coord3   = {{coord|42|12|50.3|N|73|20|41.3|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=W254AU}}

| call4    = W266AW
| freq4    = 101.1
| fid4     = 142212
| watts4   = 10
| haat4    = 135
| class4   = D
| city4    = North Adams, Massachusetts
| coord4   = {{coord|42|41|54.2|N|73|3|52.3|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=W266AW}}

| call5    = W291CH
| freq5    = 106.1
| fid5     = 141373
| watts5   = 10
| haat5    = 204.4
| class5   = D
| city5    = Pittsfield, Massachusetts
| coord5   = {{coord|42|24|44.3|N|73|17|5.4|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=W291CH}}
}}

==NEPR News Network==
WFCR provides a full-time NPR news and information service on the ''NEPR News Network'', which consists of four radio stations in Western Massachusetts owned by its nonprofit fundraising arm, the New England Public Radio Foundation, along with two additional stations owned by area colleges. The network carries programming from NPR, [[Public Radio Exchange]], the [[BBC]] and [[CBC Radio]].  Programs include ''[[Morning Edition]]'', ''All Things Considered'', ''[[Fresh Air]]'', ''[[The Takeaway]]'', ''[[Here and Now (Boston)|Here and Now]]'', ''[[Q (radio show)|Q]]'' and [[BBC World Service]].
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! [[Call signs in North America|Call sign]]
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Frequency]]
! [[City of license]]
! First air date
! [[Facility ID]]
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Nominal power|Power]]<br />(W)
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Effective radiated power|ERP]]<br />(W)
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Height above average terrain|Height]]<br />(m (ft))
! [[List of North American broadcast station classes|Class]]
! Transmitter coordinates
! Former call signs
! Licensee
|-
| {{rh}} | WNNZ || 640 AM || [[Westfield, Massachusetts]] || {{start date|1957|12}} (on 1570 AM)<br>{{start date|1987|7|8}} (on 640 AM) || 9736 || 50,000 day<br />1,000 night ||  ||  || B || {{coord|42|10|46.33|N|72|45|3.34|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=WNNZ}} || WDEW (1957–1978)<br>WLDM (1978–1987) || New England Public Radio Foundation, Inc.
|-
| {{rh}} | WNNZ-FM || 91.7 FM || [[Deerfield, Massachusetts]] || {{start date|1982|5}} || 68194 || || 100 || {{Convert|95|m|ft|abbr=on}} || A || {{coord|42|32|3.3|N|72|35|30.3|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=WNNZ-FM}} || [[WGAJ]] (1982–2010) || New England Public Radio Foundation, Inc.
|-
| {{rh}} | WNNI || 98.9 FM || [[Adams, Massachusetts]] || {{start date|2014|7}} || 189578 || || 630 || {{Convert|116.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} || A || {{coord|42|41|54.2|N|73|3|52.3|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=WNNI}} || || New England Public Radio Foundation, Inc.
|-
| {{rh}} | WNNU || 89.5 FM || [[Great Barrington, Massachusetts]] || {{start date|2013|4|19}} || 174491 ||  || 270 || {{Convert|196.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} || A || {{coord|42|14|34.3|N|73|29|11.4|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=WNNU}} || || New England Public Radio Foundation, Inc.
|-
| {{rh}} | [[WAMH]] || 89.3 FM || [[Amherst, Massachusetts]] || {{start date|1955}} || 68222 ||  || 130 || {{Convert|233|m|ft|abbr=on}} || A || {{coord|42|21|49.3|N|72|25|22.3|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=WAMH}} || WAMF (1955–1971) || [[Amherst College]]
|-
| {{rh}} | [[WAIC]] || 91.9 FM || [[Springfield, Massachusetts]] || {{start date|1967|2}} || 1749 ||  || 200 || {{Convert|22.1|m|ft|abbr=on}} || A || {{coord|42|6|45.3|N|72|33|22.3|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=WAIC}} || || [[American International College]]
|}

===WNNZ===
The [[flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]] station of the NEPR News Network is WNNZ, 640 [[kHz]] [[AM broadcasting|AM]], licensed to [[Westfield, Massachusetts]], which was once owned by Clear Channel Communications (now [[iHeartMedia]]).  WNNZ's power output is 50,000 watts in the daytime, the maximum permitted for AM stations by the [[Federal Communications Commission]].  But because 640&nbsp;kHz is a [[Clear-channel station|clear channel frequency]] for [[CBN (AM)|CBN]] in [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador]], WNNZ must reduce power to 1,000 watts at night.  The antenna is a three-tower array, using differing [[Directional antenna|directional patterns]] day and night.  During the day, it provides at least secondary coverage to all of western Massachusetts, as well as New York's [[Capital District, New York|Capital District]] and the Hartford area.  At night, the signal is cut back to concentrate the signal northward around the Springfield and Hartford areas.

Until 2010, WFCR provided WNNZ's programming, while Clear Channel sold underwriting advertisements.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blomberg|first=Marcia|url=http://www.masslive.com/business/republican/index.ssf?/base/business-1/1173430375229640.xml&coll=1|title=Public radio station widens coverage|work=[[The Republican (Springfield)|The Springfield Republican]]|date=March 9, 2007|access-date=August 31, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wfcr.org/about/WNNZfacts.php|title=WFCR.org|publisher=Wfcr.org|access-date=September 3, 2013}}</ref> However, in July 2010, WFCR purchased WNNZ from Clear Channel for $525,000. The sale does not include the transmission towers, but rather has a lease clause in the sale agreement in which Clear Channel will own them and lease them to WFCR.<ref>[https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101396258&qnum=5030&copynum=1&exhcnum=1]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021122723/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101396258&qnum=5030&copynum=1&exhcnum=1 |date=October 21, 2012 }}</ref>
WFCR purchased the license from Clear Channel under the name of "WFCR Foundation Inc." The FCC approved the sale August 25, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1396258 |title=Application Search Details |publisher=Licensing.fcc.gov |access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101396258&formid=314&fac_num=9736 |title=CDBS Print |publisher=Licensing.fcc.gov |access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref>
Prior to 2007, the programming heard on WNNZ was heard on [[WPNI]], 1430&nbsp;kHz, in Amherst, which was owned by [[Pamal Broadcasting]].

===WNNZ-FM (formerly WGAJ)===
WFCR, again, under the licensee name of "WFCR Foundation Inc.", acquired the license of [[WGAJ]] 91.7&nbsp;MHz in Deerfield, Massachusetts from [[Deerfield Academy]]. The license transfer was granted on August 19, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1374630 |title=Application Search Details |publisher=Licensing.fcc.gov |access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref> WFCR paid Deerfield Academy $10,000 for the signal.<ref>[https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101396012&qnum=5030&copynum=1&exhcnum=1]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021122831/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101396012&qnum=5030&copynum=1&exhcnum=1 |date=October 21, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101396012&formid=314&fac_num=68194 |title=CDBS Print |publisher=Licensing.fcc.gov |access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref>  The call letters of the station were changed to WNNZ-FM as of September 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=68194&Callsign=WNNZ-FM |title=Call Sign History |publisher=Licensing.fcc.gov |access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref>

===WNNI===
WFCR won the allocation of 98.9 in [[Adams, Massachusetts]], in FCC Auction #91 (under the applicant name, WFCR Foundation Inc.).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-891A2.pdf |title=FCC FM Broadcast Auction : Auction ID:91 - Winning Bids |publisher=Hraunfoss.fcc.gov |access-date=September 3, 2013}}</ref> WFCR won it for $189,750. WFCR filed the application for a new station with the FCC, to transmit the new signal from the top of West Summit, in [[North Adams, Massachusetts]], where the current [[WUPE-FM]] transmitter site is located. WFCR already has a translator, W266AW, located there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?facid=189578 |title=FM Query Results - Audio Division (FCC) USA |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] |access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref>

=== WNNU ===
WNNU was launched in 2013; it broadcasts on 89.5 and serves the southern portion of Berkshire County and part of [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia County]] in neighboring New York state.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nepr.net/press-releases/2013/04/19/new-public-radio-station-great-barrington-and-surrounding-area/|title=A New Public Radio Station for Great Barrington and Surrounding Area|date=April 19, 2013|work=NEPR.net|publisher=New England Public Radio|location=[[Amherst, Massachusetts|Amherst, Mass.]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404043557/http://nepr.net/press-releases/2013/04/19/new-public-radio-station-great-barrington-and-surrounding-area/|archive-date=April 4, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=February 3, 2017}}</ref>

===Other stations===
In addition to WNNZ-AM-FM, WNNI, and WNNU, the NEPR News Network is heard on 89.3 [[WAMH]] Amherst, serving [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]], and 91.9 [[WAIC]] Springfield, serving [[Hampden County, Massachusetts|Hampden County]].  WAIC joined the network on July 1, 2016, after switching its programming source from [[Connecticut Public Radio]].  It is owned by [[American International College]] in Springfield, but programmed by WFCR.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nepr.net/press-releases/2016/06/28/nepr-news-network-completed-with-full-fm-service-in-four-counties|title=NEPR News Network Completed With Full FM Service In Four Counties|publisher=New England Public Radio|date=June 28, 2016}}</ref> WAMH simulcasts WNNZ from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. with student [[Freeform (radio format)|free form programming]] the other hours of the day (when Amherst College is in session).

==See also==
* [[Campus radio]]
* [[List of college radio stations in the United States]]
* [[WAIC]]
* [[WAMH]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://nepr.net/}}
{{FM station data|69304|WFCR}}

; Associated stations
{{Div col}}
{{FM station data|189578|WNNI}}
{{FM station data|174491|WNNU}}
{{AM station data|9736|WNNZ}}
{{FM station data|68194|WNNZ-FM}}
{{Div col end}}

{{Springfield MA radio}}
{{NPR Massachusetts}}
{{American broadcast radio|state=autocollapse}}
{{Five Colleges}}
{{Amherst College}}
{{Hampshire College}}
{{Mount Holyoke College}}
{{Smith College}}
{{University of Massachusetts Amherst}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1961 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Amherst College]]
[[Category:Hampshire College]]
[[Category:Mass media in Hampshire County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Mass media in Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Mount Holyoke College]]
[[Category:NPR member stations]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1961]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Massachusetts|FCR]]
[[Category:Smith College]]
[[Category:University of Massachusetts Amherst]]