WAPS (FM)

WAPS

City of license	Akron, Ohio
Broadcast area	Akron metro area
Branding	91.3 The Summit
Slogan	Keeping Music Alive
Frequency	91.3 (MHz) (also on HD Radio)
Repeaters	WKTL (90.7 MHz), Struthers, Ohio
First air date	September 1955
Format	Analog/HD-1: AAA HD-2: Retro alternative HD-3: KIDJAM! Radio
ERP	2,000 watts
Class	A
Callsign meaning	W-"Akron Public Schools"
Owner	Akron Public Schools
Website	TheSummit.fm

WAPS (91.3 FM) — 91.3 The Summit — is an American non-commercial radio station serving in and licensed to Akron, Ohio. The station is owned and operated by the Akron Public Schools system and airs an Adult album alternative (AAA) format 7 Days a week, including NPR's World Cafe on weekday mornings. For many years on Sundays, specialty programs air, including a block of nationality programming in foreign languages. The foreign language programs were dropped in 2011 and its Tripie A music programing was expanded into Sundays. In February 2009, WAPS began airing Found Sound, a new music hour that is currently on every Saturday at 9 pm.

The station broadcasts worldwide via streaming audio from the station website at www.thesummit.fm. It strives to offer programming not heard on the more traditional public radio stations from Kent, Cleveland or Youngstown and avoids duplicating programs found on other regional public radio stations. Nearly 90% of its programming is produced locally.

The station's programming is simulcast Sunday through Friday in the Youngstown area via the facilities of Struthers High School station WKTL (90.7 FM).

History

WAPS first signed on in September 1955, part of a state-wide educational broadcasting initiative which saw the launch of many school system-licensed radio stations across Ohio. From 1955 through the early 1980s, WAPS served as a “radio classroom” service, operating only during school days and offering instructional radio programs that teachers could use in their classrooms.

In the mid-1980s, the station evolved into a vocational program for high school broadcasting students, who served as on-air hosts, playing Top-40 music. In 1987, the station switched format to Alternative Rock/Modern Rock in the afternoons and evenings, and jazz in the morning hours. During this era, the station began broadcasting during the summer months as well as the school year. High school student broadcasters were augmented by college student broadcasters, and community volunteers.

Weekend specialty and nationality broadcasts began with an abbreviated schedule in 1990, expanding to a full-day schedule by 1995. In 1992, WAPS began a slow evolution away from the “Modern Rock” format towards the Album Adult Alternative format, completing the process in 1995. In 1996, the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That same year, WAPS launched their first website, which soon offered live worldwide streaming audio of WAPS programs.

In 1999, the station made a commitment to the Album Adult Alternative format under the branding of "91.3 The Summit". The website, www.wapsfm.com, was re-launched as www.913thesummit.com, though both addresses remain active. In 2001, WAPS hired local professional on-air hosts to broadcast during prime time hours, while continuing to use volunteers on weekends and evenings, supplemented by student interns and community volunteers behind the scenes.

Funding

Non-commercial WAPS relies on listener membership donations for much of its annual funding. Additional funding is provided by local and regional businesses and organizations, which underwrite station programming, and grant funds from local and regional philanthropic organizations. The station receives a Community Service Grant from the Corporation For Public Broadcasting. As of 2009, it receives no direct financial support from owner Akron Public Schools.

Signal

WAPS once broadcast on 89.1 until moving to 91.3 in August 1994 to increase signal coverage. The station moved transmitter sites in December 2002 to further increase signal coverage to points west and south of Akron. In October 2008, WAPS installed a digital transmitter and panel antenna system to maximize the 2,000 watt signal and to begin broadcasting in HD Radio. As part of the HD radio initiative, it launched a second format on their HD-2 audio channel, "Summit Flashbacks," offering a commercial-free mix of "new wave"-inspired music from the years 1976 through 1994.

In June 2010, WAPS launched an HD3 station for children called KIDJAM! Radio. KIDJAM! Radio aims "to embrace technology by combining high-quality entertainment with a solid foundation for strengthening self-esteem, providing simple steps to good nutrition and developing a positive attitude." The station has its own website, www.kidjamradio.com.

In addition to being received locally on standard FM or new HD radios, a live broadcast of their main station as well as HD-only “Summit Flashbacks” can be heard worldwide via streaming audio from the station's website.

Recognition

WAPS was nominated by Radio and Records Magazine's Industry Achievement Awards as "Triple A Radio Station of The Year: Markets 50+ Noncommercial", in 2006 and 2008. Readers of local publication Akron Life and Leisure Magazine voted WAPS as "Best Radio Station" in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

WAPS was listed as one of the "40 Best Little Radio Stations in the U.S." by Paste Magazine in 2010. The station was also recognized as the "Volunteer of the Year" by Akron Public Schools in 2010 for their Music Alive instrument donation program.

External links

• WAPS official website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WAPS
• Radio-Locator information on WAPS
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WAPS
• Aerial photo of WAPS transmitter from Google Maps