Background
WCOM is the first low-power FM radio
station in the area to be set up under a program established by the Federal
Communications Commission in 2000. The listening audience for this community
radio station extends a five-mile radius with a studio in downtown Carrboro
and an antenna at Scroggs Elementary School in Southern Village.
Low-power FM
is grassroots radio—an effort to counterbalance the increasing concentration
of radio ownership by a few large corporations.
Brief History
In June 2004, WCOM 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.
Meanwhile, our intrepid engineering committee toiled away to build the studio and establish the studio-to-transmitter link. Finally, at 11:27 PM on Wednesday, September 29, 2004, they flipped the last switch and we began broadcasting from our beautiful new studio in downtown Carrboro.
Why WCOM is Important
WCOM is a different kind of radio. When you tune in
to WCOM you will hear our community—our people, environment, events, music,
and attitude. These are the stars of WCOM programs. WCOM is a place where
people gather to listen to good music or to find out about local news. It's
a place to learn about the world, laugh, meet good neighbors, and share
ideas.
Community volunteers add depth and sparkle to WCOM. The voices you hear
on the air belong to real people making radio that is live, immediate, and
interactive. WCOM's volunteers love the medium of radio and care about the
people of Carrboro.
