Wikipedia

WUEC

WUEC (89.7 FM) is a radio station in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States. The station is part of Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) and broadcasts its WPR Music service consisting of classical and jazz music with news updates. WUEC also broadcasts local programming from studios in the Wisconsin Public Broadcasting regional center in Eau Claire and three hours of student programming a week from studios in the Hibbard Humanities building at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UW-EC).

WUEC
Frequency89.7 MHz
Programming
FormatPublic radio, classical music
NetworkWisconsin Public Radio (WPR Music)
AffiliationsNPR, American Public Media
Ownership
OwnerBoard of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
History
First air date
October 27, 1975
Call sign meaning
Wisconsin Eau Claire
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID4282
ClassC3
ERP5,200 watts
HAAT192 m (630 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
44°47′59.9″N 91°27′57″W / 44.799972°N 91.46583°W / 44.799972; -91.46583
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewpr.org

WUEC went on the air on October 27, 1975, as the student-run radio station at UW-EC, which was among the last universities in the University of Wisconsin System at the time to get such a station. In its early years, it was a limited-power, 10-watt operation that only broadcast during the school year. The station slowly increased its hours of operation as well as its power and coverage area.

Beginning in 1989, WUEC added programming from Wisconsin Public Radio to its lineup, at first in the mornings and later during daytime hours. At the time, WPR was moving toward offering two program services but only had one frequency in the Eau Claire area. In 1992, it opted to favor the relationship with WUEC over a permit it held to build a second Eau Claire frequency, which was sold to Christian radio broadcaster Fourth Dimension and put on the air as WHEM three years later. WUEC's primary format of alternative rock music was replaced in 1996 with jazz during student hours as WPR programming occupied more and more of the station's broadcast day. UW-EC student-produced programming now only occupies a three-hour block on Monday nights.[2]

Student radio at UW-Eau Claire

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Early years

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A carrier current radio station, audible only in campus dormitories, had operated at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UW-EC) since December 10, 1962.[3] It was initially known as WSCB ("Wisconsin State Campus Broadcast"[3]) and changed to WSUR in 1965.[a][5]

By 1973, station staff were formulating a proposal to convert the carrier current station to an FM broadcast operation.[6] The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on August 22, 1974, for authority to build a 10-watt radio station; this was approved on December 6.[7],[8][9] WUEC began broadcasting on October 27, 1975, from a transmitter atop the 10-story Women's Towers dormitory. It originally operated on mornings and evenings Monday through Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings, for a total of 78 hours a week. Some 50 students staffed the station.[10][11]

In 1978, the FCC made policy changes that encouraged 10-watt, Class D radio stations like WUEC to upgrade their signals or face being bumped by new stations. As a result, the university filed for a power increase to 750 watts.[7] The new transmitter went into service in November 1979, expanding WUEC's coverage area and introducing stereo broadcasting.[12] It was located off campus on the tower of television station WEAU.[13]

Notes

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  1. ^ This followed Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire being granted university status as Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire in 1964. In 1971, the Wisconsin State University System was merged into the University of Wisconsin System, and the name changed accordingly.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WUEC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WPR Music, Western Region Schedule" (PDF). Wisconsin Public Radio. May 30, 2024. p. 11.
  3. ^ a b "Radio Station Opens Dec. 10: 600 kc Station Runs Evenings, Called WSCB". The Spectator. December 6, 1962. p. 1.
  4. ^ "Campus History". University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  5. ^ "University Radio Adds News Service Facilities". The Spectator. September 30, 1965. p. 6.
  6. ^ "FM operating at UW schools". The Spectator. October 11, 1973. p. 10.
  7. ^ a b "History Cards for WUEC". Federal Communications Commission.
  8. ^ "University given approval to construct FM station". Leader-Telegram. Eau Claire, Wisconsin. January 17, 1975. p. Hilites 5. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "UWEC-FM to make city-wide on the air debut Monday". Leader-Telegram. Eau Claire, Wisconsin. October 24, 1975. pp. Hilites 3, 4. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "WUEC broadcasting underway at UW-EC". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. October 29, 1975. p. 5. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Student-run WUEC: 'alternative radio'". Leader-Telegram. Eau Claire, Wisconsin. August 16, 1978. p. On Campus 19. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "'U' radio boosts power, takes 'big step'". Leader-Telegram. Eau Claire, Wisconsin. UW-Eau Claire News Service. November 10, 1979. p. Hilites 6. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ DuPre, Chris (October 25, 1985). "WUEC marks 10 years on air". Leader-Telegram. Eau Claire, Wisconsin. p. 1B. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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