WMTS-FM
(88.3 FM) is a student run radio station licensed to Murfreesboro,
Tennessee
, USA. The station is currently owned by Middle Tennessee
State University
.It is the fourth attempt by students to
organize a student run radio station at MTSU. While the larger,
professional station
WMOT employed students, others felt unrepresented. A
student group led by Reza Bhakter worked to achieve enough interest
and authorization from the Student Government Association. WMTS
went on-air in March 1992 on cable channel 38, the Housing and
Residential Life Channel, from 8 PM to Midnight.
The station's name was originally 'WNAR', for "We Need A Radio".
The signal then moved to MTSU Channel 8 on the local cable system
during the Fall of 1992. During this time, WMTS worked to obtain
FCC approval for an FM license and a construction permit. With help
from WMOT, namely the donation of tower space and a transmitter,
WMTS finally hit the FM band on 88.3 MHz in the Summer of
1995. The old call sign "WNAR" was changed to "WMTS" that Fall: 810
WMTS (now WAPB) in Murfreesboro donated the call letters. They felt
the WMTS call sign better fit MTSU's station.
In August 1995, WMTS began normal operation at 200 Watts. Since
equipment and money was scarce, it broadcast in
monaural. During the 1996 Christmas Break, WMTS
went
stereo with some of the most advanced
processing in the Middle Tennessee area, which increased potential
signal coverage and enabled it to sound like other FM stations in
the area. It also began broadcasting constantly with a mix of
automation and live personalities. WMTS now broadcasts at 680
Watts.
WMTS started out as a small group wanting to create a voice for the
students of MTSU. It is continuing that mission and holds general
interest meetings every semester for students desiring to
participate. Students are encouraged to review new albums for the
station (checking both content and explicit lyrics which cannot be
aired), attend concerts and record sales,
host
shows, etc.
References
External links
www.wmts.org