WUEC

WUEC
Frequency89.7 MHz
Programming
FormatPublic radio, classical music
NetworkWisconsin Public Radio (WPR Music)
AffiliationsNPR, American Public Media
Ownership
OwnerBoard of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
History
First air date
October 27, 1975
Call sign meaning
Wisconsin Eau Claire
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID4282
ClassC3
ERP5,200 watts
HAAT192 m (630 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
44°47′59.9″N 91°27′57″W / 44.799972°N 91.46583°W / 44.799972; -91.46583
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewpr.org

WUEC (89.7 FM) is a radio station in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States. The station is part of Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) and broadcasts its WPR Music service consisting of classical and jazz music with news updates. WUEC also broadcasts local programming from studios in the Wisconsin Public Broadcasting regional center in Eau Claire and three hours of student programming a week from studios in the Hibbard Humanities building at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UW-EC).

WUEC went on the air on October 27, 1975, as the student-run radio station at UW-EC, which was the last university in the University of Wisconsin System at the time to get such a station. In its early years, it was a limited-power, 10-watt operation that only broadcast during the school year. The station slowly increased its hours of operation as well as its power and coverage area.

Beginning in 1989, WUEC added programming from Wisconsin Public Radio to its lineup, at first in the mornings and later during daytime hours. At the time, WPR was moving toward offering two program services but only had one frequency in the Eau Claire area. In 1992, it opted to favor the relationship with WUEC over a permit it held to build a second Eau Claire frequency, which was sold to Christian radio broadcaster Fourth Dimension and put on the air as WHEM three years later. WUEC's primary format of alternative rock music was replaced in 1996 with jazz during student hours as WPR programming occupied more and more of the station's broadcast day, and student involvement fell off after that. UW-EC student-produced programming now only occupies a three-hour block on Monday nights.[2]

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WUEC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WPR Music, Western Region Schedule" (PDF). Wisconsin Public Radio. May 30, 2024. p. 11.