WUVT-FM

WUVT-FM
City Blacksburg, Virginia
Broadcast area Blacksburg, Virginia
Montgomery County, Virginia
Branding "WUVT-FM 90.7 Blacksburg"
Slogan "Radio For Everyone"
Frequency 90.7 MHz
First air date 1969
Format Freeform
Power 6,500 Watts
HAAT 130.9 Meters
Class C3
Facility ID 70278
Transmitter coordinates 37°13′28.0″N 80°24′30.0″W / 37.224444°N 80.408333°W / 37.224444; -80.408333
Callsign meaning W Univ. of Virginia Tech
Owner Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Webcast WUVT-FM Webstream
Website WUVT-FM Online

WUVT-FM (90.7 FM) is a freeform broadcast radio station located in Blacksburg, Virginia, serving Blacksburg and Montgomery County, Virginia. WUVT-FM is licensed to Virginia Tech and is operated by the Educational Media Company of Virginia Tech.[1]

History

WUVT, in one form or another, has been located on the campus of Virginia Tech for more than 60 years, making it one of the longest running radio stations in Virginia. It originally began operation as an AM station in 1948 after a student created an AM transmitter in his dorm room. WUVT-FM was established in 1969. Today, like other student media organizations on campus, WUVT is a division of the Educational Media Company of Virginia Tech.

WUVT is known for its eclectic programming, covering a wide swath of past and present music styles. DJs are typically students (and former students), who select content based upon their personal preferences. WUVT serves the community by providing an educational and cultural experience, offering music rarely heard on commercial stations.

WUVT's studios and offices are located in Squires Student Center. Its tower site is on nearby Price Mountain. The station currently transmits its signal with a Harris Z5CD solid state transmitter donated by Clear Channel.[2]

Former WUVT Chief Engineer Kevin Sterne was injured in the April 16, 2007 killing spree by a Virginia Tech student. After hearing about Kevin’s strong passion for the radio station and WUVT's need to upgrade its aging transmitter, officials from Clear Channel and the Society of Broadcast Engineers assisted in returning WUVT to full power on April 28, 2007. Clear Channel donated a Harris Z5CD transmitter, transmitter building, and antenna sufficient to generate 10 KW. Orban, CBS Radio, and Electronics Research, Inc. (ERI) also offered equipment and technical assistance.[2]

Power Increase

Virginia Radio and TV website VARTV.com reported in 2007 that WUVT "has requested to move its antenna off-campus to a new location a mile away from and increase the antenna height from 141 feet to 429 feet. WUVT wants to be licensed as a Class C3 (from Class A) and increase its power from 3,000 watts to 10,000 watts."

In June 2008, WUVT received authorization from the FCC to begin building a 6.5 kW transmission facility.[3] This construction permit was issued for a lower power that originally requested due to a conflicting application with WEHC. Both stations filed applications for power increases which would have overlapped, so both WUVT and WEHC have compromised and re-submitted their applications at a lower power.[4]

Over summer 2009, WUVT moved equipment to the new site atop Price Mountain and removed the old transmitter from its location atop Lee Hall. During the transitional period, WUVT broadcast at low power from Squires Student Center.

In September 2009, the station received permission to begin broadcasting at 6.5 kW ERP.

Technical Accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "WUVT Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. 1 2 "RADIO PROFESSIONALS GIVE BACK TO VIRGINIA TECH RADIO STATION". Press Release. Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
  3. 1 2 "FM Query Results -- Audio Division FCC (USA)". Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  4. ↑ "CDBS Print (see exhibit 1)". Retrieved 2008-07-21.
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