WNPR FM 90.5

A public radio network affiliated with National Public Radio (NPR) serving Connecticut, western Massachusetts, and eastern Long Island. Owned by the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, which also operates the state's public television service, the network provides primarily news and talk programming from NPR along with locally produced shows. The network originated in the 1970s when a statewide television organization sought to establish radio service in areas underserved by public broadcasting. Development proved challenging due to crowded noncommercial frequencies throughout the Northeast. The organization acquired a key frequency and established its first station in 1978, eventually expanding to multiple broadcast locations throughout the state. Network headquarters are shared with the television operation in the state capital, with additional studios in another major city. The system evolved through various call letter changes and licensing arrangements to serve multiple markets simultaneously across the tri-state region.