sticker-covered cabinet at college radio station KWVA. Photo: J. Waits

College Radio Watch: Weber State to Sell KWCR License to EMF, WUMD’s final days of FM and More News

By Jennifer Waits on June 23, 2017 in College Radio, College Radio Survivor

I was interested to learn that public radio station WGBH has launched a radio show focused on higher education. According to WGBH, the June 18 pilot episode of “On Campus Radio” discusses “the nature of free speech on campus.” One story digs into examples from Wellesley, “where conservative professors are trying to burst the liberal bubble.”

I’m not sure how many radio shows specifically address college life, but it seems like a particularly good fit for student-oriented college radio stations as well. If you know of other college/higher education-themed radio shows, let me know.

KWCR License to Be Sold to Educational Media Foundation + Gets FCC Fine During Renewal

Also this week, we get word that Weber State University is selling the FM license for its college radio station KWCR to Christian radio network Educational Media Foundation for $100,000. The Ogden, Utah-based college radio station will continue as a streaming station. In March, we reported that the school’s Board of Trustees voted to sell the license, but they was no word at the time about potential buyers. The station had been intermittently broadcasting over FM and has pretty much been online-only for nearly two years. Back in 2015, KWCR celebrated its 50th anniversary.

During the course of its license renewal, KWCR also got some unwelcome news from the FCC in the form of a Consent Decree and fine for various violations. In a memorandum and order, the FCC references a pair of objections to the station’s license renewal, including a 2013 letter from a listener, which alleges that KWCR played inappropriate content, including songs with swear words and obscene content. Another complaint, from a former student employee of KWCR, alleged that the station had issues with EAS broadcasts, its record keeping, was not open during regular business hours, and played objectionable content (swear words, drug references, etc.).

After opening an investigation, the FCC found that KWCR had discrepancies in its public file, logs, and EAS monitoring. Subsequently, the FCC and KWCR agreed to a Consent Decree, which includes a $9,300 civil penalty and a compliance plan. KWCR agreed to provide training to its staff regarding FCC rules and committed to having higher level oversight over the maintenance of required FCC documents.

WUMD’s Final Day on FM

Monday, June 26 will be the last day over 89.3 FM for college radio station WUMD at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. On this bittersweet day, the station plans to air special programming to commemorate 42 years over FM. While WUMD programming will continue online, the FM license will be sold to Rhode Island Public Radio. We’ve been following this story since the proposed sale was announced and FCC paperwork was filed in January. Despite protests from WUMD participants and fans, UMass Dartmouth proceeded with the sale and the license assignment was approved by the FCC in May. A clock on the WUMD website reports on the “Countdown to the turn-off of our WUMD FM 89.3 signal.”