WVTC

Equipment in WVTC's office, including a Crown 250 watt transmitter.

WVTC is the radio station of Vermont Technical College, operating on the 90.7 FM frequency with an effective power of 300 watts. The station is located in Morey Hall on the Vermont Technical College Randolph Center, Vermont campus. WVTC is operated and maintained by the VTC Radio Club and supported mainly by VTC Student Council.

Timeline

• 1961 - A small pirate radio station is reported to have begun broadcasting on the Randolph Center campus of Vermont Technical College
• 1965 - The VTC yearbook distinguishes between the Radio Club and the Radio Station WVTC-AM 540.
• 1966 - A new dorm building, Morey Hall, is erected at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center that includes provisions for a campus radio station.
• 1967 - The radio station moves into its new home at Morey Hall.
• 1968 - The Radio station applies for and receives a license from the FCC to broadcast as WVTC-FM at 90.7 MHz and 100 watts.
• 1970s - The station prospers.
• 1980s - Howard Ginsberg is involved with the station. He would later continue in radio with the founding of WXXX, a successful commercial Top 40 station in Burlington, VT. WVTC is granted a 300 watt license. The station continues to prosper.
• 1990s - WVTC migrates to CD technology.
• 1995 - The station is off the air during the summer months due to FCC violations.
• 1996 - Many upgrades are performed, including new studio and broadcasting equipment. Early concepts for station automation are explored.
• 1997 - Internet webcasting begins, streaming both music and webcam images.
  • - MP3s are introduced as an on-air medium.
  • - WVTC gets a new tower and antenna.
  • - WVTC successfully navigates the relicensing process with the FCC.
• 1998 - The WebDJ automation system goes live and SCA technology is explored. WVTC broadcasts 24/7 for the first time.
  • - WVTC ranks in the broadcast ratings for Central Vermont
• 1999 - The club booms with 80+ club members.
  • - DJ Spookman goes on the air pumping out the techno/trance and hip-hop, bringing vinyl and scratching to the long unused Technics 1200's in the studio. The people rejoiced and all was well.
• 2000 - WVTC remains unaffected and on the air during the Y2K rollover.
• 2001 - MP3 music replaces CDs as the station's primary audio storage format.
• 2006 - A dark time for the station as club membership is scarce. The station goes off the air due to transmitter problems during the summer but returns after repairs are made in the fall.
• Spring 2007 - A small group of students band together, showing enough interest to prevent the school administration from shutting down WVTC. Some hardware and software upgrades are performed in the spring and a couple of regular shows are broadcast.
• Fall 2007 - WVTC was forced to shut down when their FCC license failed to be renewed by the college. Shortly afterward, the college was approached by Vermont Public Radio with proposals to lease the station, which were not accepted.
• Fall 2008 - WVTC resumes transmission
• Winter 2008/9 - WVTC taken off-line after repeated power failures lead to equipment failure.
• Fall 2009 - WVTC resumes transmission after replacement of damaged equipment.
• Spring 2011 - Files Consent Decree with FCC, almost a fully licensed station once again.
• Fall 2013 - Final Consent Decree Inspection, WVTC now officially a fully licensed station.

External links

• WVTC website
• Vermont Technical College
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WVTC
• Radio-Locator information on WVTC
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WVTC