WCPI to reach wider audience
The Federal Communications Commission earlier this month granted final approval for the non-commercial station to boost output power by 60 percent and move its broadcasting antenna to a higher elevation. The combined improvements will send a much stronger radio signal into neighboring counties, including Rutherford, White, Coffee and Van Buren.
“We greatly look forward to serving a larger part of Middle Tennessee with our distinct, commercial-free programming,” said Dr. Norman Rone, president of the non-profit Warren County Education Foundation, licensee and operator of WCPI. “This represents one major step in a series of planned improvements in our service to radio listeners.”
The station will shut down at 7:15 p.m. today and will remain off the air until 9 a.m. Sunday as the transmitting antenna is relocated from its downtown tower to a higher position in Mt. Leo, said Gloria Grissom, program manager. WCPI chief engineer Richard E. Myers and employees of Communications Evolutions will use the down time to move the antenna and adjust the new transmitter for optimum performance.
“It’s possible we’ll be back on the air for regular programming late Saturday afternoon, but given the uncertainties of the technical changes we can’t make any promises,” Rone said.
WCPI went on the air at 91.3 FM in February 1997, offering an eclectic mix of musical entertainment — including big band, 1960s oldies, Southern gospel, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, grand opera, classical, jazz and easy listening. WCPI also offers national and world news, political and social commentary, religious programming, educational events and cultural programs such as Pat Bigbee’s “A Matter of Taste.”
With studios in the basement of the Chamber of Commerce building, WCPI had sent its 1000-watt signal into most of Warren County and contiguous areas of White, DeKalb, Coffee, Grundy and Van Buren counties. The new transmitter with its 1600-watt effective radiated power will drive the signal well into all adjacent counties as well as Murfreesboro, according to projections by the station’s consulting engineers.
“WCPI’s underwriters, representing many of the finest and most progressive businesses and civic organizations in our community, have been vital to the success of this public radio service,” said Jeff Golden, a director of the Warren County Education Foundation, an IRS 501 c-3 entity eligible to receive tax-exempt donations. “With our increased output power — to 1600 watts — and higher antenna location, we’ll be reaching out to tens of thousands of potential, new listeners. That will mean added value for existing underwriters as well as new ones who appreciate the benefits of supporting public radio.”
The station has been operating from 7 a.m. (9 a.m. on Sundays) until 7:15 p.m. daily. Work is in progress to keep the station on the air continuously around the clock, with details to be announced later, Rone said.