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WEFT-FM 90.1 MHz (Champaign, Illinois) Community radio serving East Central Illinois. Broadcaststing over 80 different shows in roughly 14 genres. [1] The station's transmitter is located in nearby Lodi, New Jersey. Has served as a role model for many other community radio stations in different cities.
Station Format: Variety
Website: http://www.weft.org/
Station Owner: Weft/Prairie Air, Inc.
Station Address: 113 NORTH MARKET Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: 217-359-9338 Fax: 217-359-0559 Please Note: This address comes from the FCC's database and may not be up to date.[3]
Prairie Air and WEFT - A Brief History
WEFT began broadcasting as a cable FM station while the money and paperwork necessary to allow WEFT to broadcast at 90.1FM was being organized. After six years of organizing and 'paper chasing', on September 26, 1981, WEFT transmitted its first official signal with a power of just under 1,000 watts. In 1988, WEFT made the jump from 1,000 to 10,000 watts. This enlarged WEFT's coverage area and allowed stereo reception.
The 1990s saw WEFT continue to build its volunteer staff and enhance its programming capabilities. The station is now interconnected with the national satellite system and can broadcast special live coverage from anywhere in the world at a moment's notice.
In 1992, Prairie Air purchased the building that the WEFT studios are located in, making 113 North Market Street the permanent home of WEFT. In 1993 WEFT went to a 24 hour format, increasing the need for volunteers but also allowing more community members to have a voice on the airwaves.
The year 2001 saw the building mortgage paid off, and WEFT's 20th successful year of broadcasting. In 2003 major changes will be (almost there!) finished to the front quarter of the building making it easier to get in and out of the station, improving our appearance, and bringing us up to code. [2]
[1] http://weft.org/station/info.html
[2] http://weft.org/station/history.html#weft
[3] http://www.fcc.gov
