WCQS

WCQS
Blue Ridge Public Radio Flagship Station
Broadcast areaWestern North Carolina
Frequency88.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding
  • Blue Ridge Public Radio
  • BPR News
Programming
FormatPublic radio (news/talk)
SubchannelsHD2: Simulcast of WYQS
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerWestern North Carolina Public Radio, Inc.
WYQS
History
First air date
August 28, 1975; 49 years ago (1975-08-28)
Former call signs
WUNF-FM (1974–1984)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID71923
ClassC3
ERP1,900 watts
HAAT356 meters (1,168 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
35°35′23″N 82°40′25″W / 35.589806°N 82.673722°W / 35.589806; -82.673722
Translator(s)
Repeater(s)See § Repeaters
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.bpr.org

WCQS (88.1 FM) is a non-commercial public radio station in Asheville, North Carolina, serving Western North Carolina. It airs a news and talk radio format and is owned by Western North Carolina Public Radio, Inc.[2][3] It airs programming from NPR, American Public Media and the Public Radio Exchange and is the flagship station of Blue Ridge Public Radio. It carries locally produced news and music shows, under the BPR News branding. The BBC World Service is heard overnight.

WCQS is a Class C3 station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,900 watts, with an FCC construction permit to increase power to 5,000 watts.[4] The transmitter is on High Top Mountain Road in Asheville.[5] Serving 14 counties across the mountainous terrain of Western North Carolina requires Blue Ridge Public Radio to broadcast on a host of sister stations and FM translators to effectively reach its audience.[6] It can also be heard online via the Blue Ridge Public Radio app, and on the BPR website.

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCQS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WCQS Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Archived from the original on 2001-09-10. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
  3. ^ "WCQS Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Archived from the original on 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
  4. ^ FCC.gov/WCQS
  5. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WCQS
  6. ^ "WNC Frequencies | Blue Ridge Public Radio". Archived from the original on 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2017-09-23.