WRCT 88.3 FM

A non-commercial freeform radio station affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University, broadcasting at 88.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 1.75 kilowatts from atop Warner Hall. The station originated in 1949 as an experimental radio project by engineering students at what was then the Carnegie Institute of Technology, initially using electrical wiring to carry a carrier current AM signal at 900 kHz to a handful of academic buildings. By 1950 it had become an official student organization, and on March 1, 1974, the station migrated to its current FM frequency with an initial power of 10 watts. Successive power increases followed: to 100 watts in the late 1980s, and in 1994 to 1,750 watts in most directions and 680 watts to the east, extending its terrestrial reach to approximately fifteen miles. The station is entirely volunteer-run, drawing participants from both the university community and the wider area who serve as disc jockeys, producers, engineers, and support staff. Its record library contains nearly 70,000 records and compact discs spanning an eclectic range of genres including alternative country, blues, electronic, experimental, hip hop, heavy metal, indie rock, jazz, musical theater, and world music. Individual DJs are responsible for selecting their own programming within the station's freeform philosophy, which prioritizes original content not available through commercial outlets. Public affairs programming, locally produced music, and internet streaming complement the terrestrial broadcast.