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WCPE

Raleigh, North Carolina United States
Broadcast area	Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Frequency	89.7 MHz
Branding	The Classical Station
Programming
Format	Classical
Ownership
Owner	Educational Information Corporation
History
First air date	1978
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	18831
Class	C
ERP	100,000 watts
HAAT	359 meters (1,178 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	35°56′25.5″N 78°28′44″W / 35.940417°N 78.47889°W / 35.940417; -78.47889 (WCPE)
Translator(s)	See § Simulcasts and translators
Repeater(s)	See § Simulcasts and translators
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live
Website	www.theclassicalstation.org

WCPE (89.7 FM) in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a listener supported non-commercial, non-profit radio station, and the program contributor for The Classical Station, a classical music network. The station went on the air July 17, 1978, and switched to a 24-hour classical music format in 1984. Both are owned by the Educational Information Corporation, a nonprofit community organization.

WCPE's studios are located just outside Wake Forest, North Carolina. Its main signal extends from the South Carolina state line to the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, and some parts of Charlotte, North Carolina, as well.

Overview

WCPE operates three full-power satellite stations in the Outer Banks of eastern North Carolina, as well as a network of low-powered translators across the state. It can also be heard on cable television systems, on free-to-air (open format) "small dish" home satellite systems via the AMC-1 satellites, and around the world via six streaming audio formats on the Internet, including mp3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, QuickTime, RealAudio, iTunes, and WMA. The station also streams via IPv6. The station's call letters were randomly assigned.

In September 2023, WCPE sent a survey to listeners describing concerns over modern works in the Metropolitan Opera's upcoming season, writing that they were "written in a nonclassical music style, have adult themes and language, and are in English". The survey suggested that WCPE would not air the productions. Three of the works selected for exclusion were by Black or Mexican composers. After much national criticism and accusations of censorship, the station announced that it would broadcast the operas.

Helms-Leahy Small Webcaster Settlement Act of 2002

In November 2002, WCPE and its founder and General Manager, Deborah Proctor was recognized by Senator Jesse Helms for her contribution in the Helms-Leahy Small Webcaster Settlement Act of 2002. This act helped settle a dispute regarding the amount of royalties webcasters must pay in order to perform sound recordings over the Internet bringing stability to the then-emerging webcasting industry.

The North Carolina Award

On Saturday, November 6, 2019, founder and General Manager, Deborah Proctor was recognized by Governor Roy Cooper with North Carolina's highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award. Proctor was recognized for her efforts to promote and help small, independent and public broadcasters remain viable in the era of online broadcasting.

Simulcasts and translators

WZPE is owned by the Educational Information Corporation, while WURI is owned by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and leased to WCPE.

In 2016, WCPE's programming in Buxton moved from high-power WBUX (90.5 FM) to W216BE (now W219DW). Both facilities are owned by WUNC, which WBUX now retransmits.

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for WCPE". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. Tsioulcas, Anastasia (October 5, 2023). "N.C. radio station reverses decision to withhold broadcast of contemporary Met operas". NPR. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
3. ^ Abrams, Jonathan; Hernández, Javier C. (October 5, 2023). "North Carolina Radio Station Won't Ban Met Opera Broadcasts After All". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
4. "Congressional Record Senate Articles | Congress.gov | Library of Congress".
5. "Six to Receive 2019 North Carolina Award, State's Highest Honor | NC DNCR".
6. "Six, including Wake Forest woman, receive state's highest honor | Wake Weekly". Archived from the original on August 5, 2020.

External links

• WCPE website
• Rebroadcast consent letter, retrieved July 2, 2021.
• North Carolina's Classical Station WCPE Bans Met Opera's Six New Works Due to 'Offensive' Content
• Facility details for Facility ID 18831 (WCPE) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WCPE in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

• Classical music radio stations in the United States
• Radio stations in the Research Triangle
• Wake Forest, North Carolina
• NPR member stations
• Radio stations established in 1978
• 1978 establishments in North Carolina