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WCOM-LP

Coordinates: 35°52′38″N 79°04′09″W / 35.87722°N 79.06917°W / 35.87722; -79.06917
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Wcquidditch (talk | contribs) at 11:28, 22 March 2018 (restore infobox fields blanked without explanation (apparently related to how VisualEditor reacts with certain fields in the radio station infobox template); some of the "added detail" is either duplicative or conflicts with what the FCC shows). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

WCOM-LP
Broadcast areaChapel Hill, North Carolina
Frequency103.5 MHz
Programming
FormatVariety
Ownership
OwnerPublic Gallery of Carrboro, Inc.
History
First air date
September 29, 2004
Call sign meaning
COMmunity
Technical information
Facility ID135187
ClassL1
ERP100 watts
HAAT27.7 meters (91 feet)
Transmitter coordinates
35°52′38″N 79°04′09″W / 35.87722°N 79.06917°W / 35.87722; -79.06917
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewcomfm.org

WCOM-LP is a community low-power FM radio station, broadcasting from Carrboro, North Carolina. It broadcasts from a radio tower over Mary Scroggs Elementary School soccer field in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Its studios are located in Carrboro at 300-G E. Main Street, near the Cat's Cradle. It is the first low-power FM station in the area, and began broadcasting in June 2004. In November 2004, the station began broadcasting a full lineup of local radio programming, including some Spanish language programming.[1] It airs a Variety format.[2]

WCOM-LP is the first low-power FM community radio station in the area to be set up under a program established by the Federal Communications Commission in 2000.[3] The station was assigned the WCOM-LP call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on February 5, 2003.[4]

As a low-powered station, WCOM-LP only produces a 100-watt signal; as such, it cannot be heard far from the tower. Its limits are just before the Chapel Hill Public Library and just past Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. During the afternoons, Fayetteville station WRCQ often bleeds over into WCOM-LP's radio space, due to WRCQ's high-power transmitter being fairly close by (about 60 miles).

History

In June 2004, WCOM-LP began broadcasting a test signal—a 30-minute loop in English and Spanish explaining the goals of the station. Since the technology was not yet in place to link the studio to the transmitter, that test signal came from a CD cabinet at the base of the transmitter at Scroggs.

References

  1. ^ Hauptman, Karen (July 22, 2005). "Low-power FM station aims to provide community radio for Carrboro". News & Observer.
  2. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. ^ Russell, Graham (January 24, 2007). "Radio station WCOM emphasizes local edge". The Carrboro Commons.
  4. ^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.