WRFL

WRFL

Lexington, Kentucky
Broadcast area	Lexington Metropolitan Area
Frequency	88.1 (MHz)
Branding	WRFL 88.1
Programming
Format	College
Affiliations	Pacifica Radio Network
Ownership
Owner	University of Kentucky
History
First air date	March 7, 1988
Call sign meaning	W Radio Free Lexington
Technical information
Facility ID	54586
Class	C3
ERP	7900 watts
HAAT	87 meters (285 ft)
Links
Website	http://wrfl.fm

WRFL, Lexington (Radio Free Lexington) is a 7900-watt college radio station that broadcasts live, 24 hours a day, from the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Kentucky. The station has broadcast continuously at 88.1 MHz on the FM radio band (with rare interruptions due to power loss or other technical failures) since 1988, and prior to COVID-19, without automation.^[1]

WRFL is operated at all times by volunteer deejays, consisting largely of University of Kentucky students and also of some Lexington community members. A large portion of its programming is left up to the deejays, who plan their own shows in either a general or genre-specific format. Music played on WRFL is strictly "alternative," here defined as material which cannot be heard on other radio stations or through traditional, commercial outlets. This requirement is not only part of the station's culture and character, but is also mandated by the station's educational U.S. Federal Communications Commission license.

WRFL also has a commitment to public affairs and the community, featuring student-produced news programs, student-produced sports programs, and broadcasting the syndicated progressive news program Democracy Now! five days a week.

The station has a strong connection with the Lexington music scene and highlights underground and local artists weekly through its live music program, WRFL-Live, as well as on many of the stations other shows.

The Gavin Report listed WRFL in the top 2% of college radio stations in the nation.

Current slogans of the station include "All the way to the left," and "The only alternative left."