WCPE

35°56′25.5″N 78°28′44″W / 35.940417°N 78.47889°W / 35.940417; -78.47889 (WCPE)Translator(s)See § Simulcasts and translatorsRepeater(s)See § Simulcasts and translatorsLinksWebcastListen liveWebsitewww.theclassicalstation.org

WCPE (89.7 FM) in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a listener supported non-commercial, non-profit radio station, and the program contributor for The Classical Station, a classical music network. The station went on the air July 17, 1978, and switched to a 24-hour classical music format in 1984. Both are owned by the Educational Information Corporation, a nonprofit community organization.

WCPE's studios are located just outside Wake Forest, North Carolina. Its main signal extends from the South Carolina state line to the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, and some parts of Charlotte, North Carolina, as well.

Overview

WCPE operates three full-power satellite stations in the Outer Banks of eastern North Carolina, as well as a network of low-powered translators across the state. It can also be heard on cable television systems, on free-to-air (open format) "small dish" home satellite systems via the AMC-1 satellites, and around the world via six streaming audio formats on the Internet, including mp3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, QuickTime, RealAudio, iTunes, and WMA. The station also streams via IPv6.^{[citation needed]} The station's call letters were randomly assigned.

In September 2023, WCPE sent a survey to listeners describing concerns over modern works in the Metropolitan Opera's upcoming season, writing that they were "written in a nonclassical music style, have adult themes and language, and are in English". The survey suggested that WCPE would not air the productions.^[2] Three of the works selected for exclusion were by Black or Mexican composers.^[3] After much national criticism and accusations of censorship, the station announced that it would broadcast the operas.^[3]

Helms-Leahy Small Webcaster Settlement Act of 2002

In November 2002, WCPE and its founder and General Manager, Deborah Proctor was recognized by Senator Jesse Helms for her contribution in the Helms-Leahy Small Webcaster Settlement Act of 2002.^[4] This act helped settle a dispute regarding the amount of royalties webcasters must pay in order to perform sound recordings over the Internet bringing stability to the then-emerging webcasting industry.

The North Carolina Award

On Saturday, November 6, 2019, founder and General Manager, Deborah Proctor was recognized by Governor Roy Cooper with North Carolina's highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award.^[5][6] Proctor was recognized for her efforts to promote and help small, independent and public broadcasters remain viable in the era of online broadcasting.

Simulcasts and translators

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	State	Facility ID	Class	ERP (W)	Height (m (ft))	Transmitter coordinates
WZPE	90.1 FM	Bath	North Carolina	93744	A	4,500	39 m (128 ft)	35°28′32.5″N 76°48′42.7″W / 35.475694°N 76.811861°W / 35.475694; -76.811861 (WZPE)
WURI	90.9 FM	Manteo	North Carolina	91803	A	5,200	57 m (187 ft)	35°54′28.6″N 75°40′24.6″W / 35.907944°N 75.673500°W / 35.907944; -75.673500 (WURI)

WZPE is owned by the Educational Information Corporation, while WURI is owned by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and leased to WCPE.

Broadcast translators for WCPE

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP (W)	HAAT	Class	Transmitter coordinates	FCC info
W202BQ	88.3 FM	Aberdeen, North Carolina	93560	10	165.6 m (543 ft)	D	35°10′35.6″N 79°24′52.1″W / 35.176556°N 79.414472°W / 35.176556; -79.414472 (W202BQ)	LMS
W219DW	91.7 FM	Buxton, North Carolina	89947	120	9.8 m (32 ft)	D	35°15′41.5″N 75°34′17.5″W / 35.261528°N 75.571528°W / 35.261528; -75.571528 (W219DW)	LMS
W237CM	95.3 FM	Fayetteville, North Carolina	145202	10	201.8 m (662 ft)	D	35°4′46.6″N 78°55′57.1″W / 35.079611°N 78.932528°W / 35.079611; -78.932528 (W237CM)	LMS
W205CA	88.9 FM	Foxfire, North Carolina	93559	27	56 m (184 ft)	D	35°10′29.5″N 79°35′45.1″W / 35.174861°N 79.595861°W / 35.174861; -79.595861 (W205CA)	LMS
W247BG	97.3 FM	Frog Level, North Carolina	145839	10	150.2 m (493 ft)	D	35°32′39.6″N 77°21′23.9″W / 35.544333°N 77.356639°W / 35.544333; -77.356639 (W247BG)	LMS
W210BS	89.9 FM	New Bern, North Carolina	106585	120	36 m (118 ft)	D	35°7′56.5″N 77°10′2.8″W / 35.132361°N 77.167444°W / 35.132361; -77.167444 (W210BS)	LMS
W292DF	106.3 FM	Bassett Forks, Virginia	145951	10	232.8 m (764 ft)	D	36°36′48.5″N 79°55′3.1″W / 36.613472°N 79.917528°W / 36.613472; -79.917528 (W292DF)	LMS
W275AW	102.9 FM	Danville, Virginia	145882	38	60.9 m (200 ft)	D	36°32′38.5″N 79°23′10.1″W / 36.544028°N 79.386139°W / 36.544028; -79.386139 (W275AW)	LMS

In 2016, WCPE's programming in Buxton moved from high-power WBUX (90.5 FM) to W216BE (now W219DW). Both facilities are owned by WUNC, which WBUX now retransmits.

References

External links

• WCPE website
• Rebroadcast consent letter, retrieved July 2, 2021.
• North Carolina's Classical Station WCPE Bans Met Opera's Six New Works Due to 'Offensive' Content
• WCPE in the FCC FM station database
• WCPE in Nielsen Audio's FM station database