 | |
| Broadcast area | Pioneer Valley |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 103.3 MHz |
| Branding | Valley Free Radio |
| Programming | |
| Format | Public Radio |
| Affiliations | Pacifica Radio[1] |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Valley Free Radio Inc. |
| History | |
First air date | August 7, 2005[2] |
| Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 133520 |
| Class | L1 |
| ERP | 100 watts |
| HAAT | 20.3 meters (67 feet) |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°18′59″N 72°40′20″W / 42.31639°N 72.67222°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | LMS |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | valleyfreeradio.org |
WXOJ-LP (103.3 FM, "Valley Free Radio") is a non-profit, independent community radio station licensed to serve Northampton, Massachusetts, as well as the central Pioneer Valley region. The station was first licensed to Foundation For Media Education Inc.[4] until April 2010 when it was transferred to Valley Free Radio, inc. It airs a Public Radio format[5][6] on its FM radio frequency, as well as through a live streaming service on its website. WXOJ is known as the original broadcast station of the nationally syndicated radio and television program The David Pakman Show (originally Midweek Politics with David Pakman) and the radio program "Madness Radio," and was the home of a popular current-events program hosted by then-business owner and current Northampton City Council member Bill Dwight. The station also hosts locally produced programming at its main studios in the village of Florence, Massachusetts, such as The Enviro Show, Occupy the Airwaves, Farm to Fork, Bread & Roses, The Warm Heart of Africa, Poison Ivy of the Mind, Press Start to Continue and more. As an affiliate, VFR airs other local and national content from the Pacifica Radio Network.[1]
Valley Free Radio is volunteer-run and provides training in live programming, broadcast equipment technology, and digital audio production and editing to its members, as well as studio space for DJs and programmers. In addition, it houses the David S Dow Recording Studio; a secondary recording studio for pre-recorded content to be made.
The station was assigned the "WXOJ-LP" call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on May 11, 2004.[7] The station was launched with assistance from the Philadelphia-based Prometheus Radio Project.[2][8][9][10]
- ^ a b Perkins, Matt (2006-12-26). "Unexpected Success". The Daily News Tribune. Archived from the original on 2010-08-22. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ^ a b Simon, Clea (2005-08-18). "For Community Stations, Group Signals A Beginning". Boston Globe.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WXOJ-LP". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Freebairn, William (2005-07-24). "Radio volunteers set 'barn raising'". The Republican. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ^ "LPFM Massachusetts". LPFM Database. Archived from the original on 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
- ^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
- ^ Mannekin, Michael (2001-05-17). "Low Power To The People" (PDF). Valley Advocate Newspaper.
- ^ Hall, Will (July 2005). "Letter Hampshire Daily Gazette 2005" (PDF). Hampshire Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
- ^ Meserve, Susie (May–June 2001). "Valley Activists Crusade for Free Speech". Voice. Retrieved 2014-03-24.