WPEP
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| WPEP | |
| City of license | Taunton, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Massachusetts |
| Frequency | 1570kc. |
| First air date | December 22nd 1949 |
| Format | News/Talk |
| Power | 1kW-Day, 227.4W-Night |
| HAAT | 60 m |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 61601 |
| Transmitter Coordinates | 41º48'18"N, 71º3'50"W |
| Callsign meaning | unknown. |
| Former callsigns | WTRN (never used on air) |
| Affiliations | Talk Radio Network, USA Radio Network |
| Owner | Anastos Media Group |
WPEP was an AM broadcast station operating on a frequency of 1570 kHz from Taunton, Massachusetts. WPEP's format had been full-service, offering local news and talk programming, as well as music and nationally syndicated talk. The station is owned by Anastos Media Group.
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[edit] History
In late 1948, Silver City Broadcasting Corp., owned by businessman John McGregor, applied for and was granted a construction permit for an AM broadcast station in Taunton. The station's callsign was originally to be WTRN, however the callsign was changed to WPEP before the station officially signed on the air December 22, 1949.
When WPEP signed on, its studio was located atop the Roseland Ballroom, north of downtown Taunton. The original format is believed to have been all local programming.
WPEP was a 1kilowatt daytime-only station from 1949 to 1970. This meant that WPEP was required to cease transmitting from sunset to sunrise. On November 27, 1970, WPEP received pre-sunrise authority, allowing it to sign on at 0600 local time with a power of 350 watts, which could be upped to the full kilowatt at sunrise (during months when sunrise occurs later than 0600). Daytime-only status lasted until September 1, 1986 when WPEP was granted nighttime authorization, which allowed WPEP to transmit 227.4 watts of power.
[edit] Auxiliary licenses
- KRN297, a Remote Pickup Unit (RPU) on 161.64/161.67 Mc..
- WLI832, a Studio-Transmitter Link (STL) on 948Mc..
[edit] Status
A May 5, 2005 article in the Taunton Daily Gazette said that the station was in jeopardy because WNSH in Beverly, Massachusetts got approval from the FCC to increase their daytime power. WNSH is owned by former WPEP owner J. Keating Wilcox. When Wilcox sold WPEP to Anastos Media, there was an informal agreement that Anastos Media would turn in the station's license to allow WNSH (on the same frequency) to up their power, contingent on the power increase being granted by the FCC. The city's mayor and U.S. Representative filed objections; however, the station's general manager dismisses the possibility the station may go dark. As of December 2, 2005 Anastos Media has filed a renewal of the WPEP license. The renewal was granted by the FCC on March 28, 2006.
On June 12th 2007, the FCC granted changes to the construction permit for the new 30 kW license for WNSH, but makes testing of the new facility contingent on WPEP surrendering its license.[1]. On September 25th 2007, the station was granted an STA for the station to remain silent while the new facilities are completed.[2]
WPEP's license was deleted on October 18th 2007.
