WBFY-LP

Radio station in Belfast, Maine

44°25′46″N 69°0′50″W / 44.42944°N 69.01389°W / 44.42944; -69.01389LinksWebsitebelfastcommunityradio.org

WBFY-LP is a low-power, community radio station in Belfast, Maine, United States. It broadcasts at 100.9 FM from a studio in the basement of a former elementary school, Waterfall Arts, on High Street. The range of the signal is 10–20 miles, depending on the weather and geographic conditions.^[1]

History

The license is held by the City of Belfast, but the station itself was created and run by a group of volunteers, called Belfast Community Radio.^[2]

The station was constructed in early December 2016, by the technical committee—Pete Dalton, Erik Klausmeyer, Vic Tredwell, Zafra Whitcomb—and many other helpers. The basement room was soundproofed with donated acoustic tiles. Equipment was selected, purchased, and installed. The antenna was strapped to the chimney of the building using a metal-banding machine from the transfer station. A dedicated internet connection was established.^[3]^[4]

After a brief period of testing, the station launched on December 17, 2016, with a marathon show of live music and interviews from noon until 8 pm.^[5] A dozen local music groups appeared in the show, as well as city counselors and other supporters of the station. After that, the 'robot DJ' -- a computer program—took over. It broadcasts music 24/7, except when human DJs are training, or the station is transmitting prerecorded shows by community members. The station's second major event was held on New Year's Eve. Concerts put on by the 20th Annual New Years By The Bay were recorded, and hand carried to the station. These were broadcast with a one-hour delay, along with good wishes call-ins. Both of the marathon shows were produced by Vic Tredwell, with help from many volunteers.^[3]

Future

The programming committee, led by Karen Nelson and Judi Erickson, is recruiting and training programmers. Regular music and public service shows started in January. The governance committee, led by Zafra Whitcomb and Lane Sturtevant, is working toward bylaws and incorporation. When these legal structures are in place, the City of Belfast will transfer the license to Belfast Community Radio.^[1]^[4]

References

belfastcommunityradio.org - the station's web site
WBFY to Start Broadcasting - article by Ethan Andrews from the Republican Journal, Belfast's newspaper
Community Radio Launch - video by Ned Lightner from "Somewhere In Waldo County", a show on Belfast's public access cable channel
Hyper-Local Radio - article about the station on the Island Institute website
WBFY FM radio station to go live with on-air party

^ ^a ^b "About Us". Belfast Community Radio. 2017-01-28. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
^ "Hyperlocal radio: Belfast has new low-power radio station, joining Eastport, Rockland and Standish". Island Institute. 2017-01-30. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
^ ^a ^b "Our Story". Belfast Community Radio. 2017-01-28. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
^ ^a ^b Media, Belfast Community (2016-12-14), Community Radio Launch, retrieved 2020-03-19
^ "WBFY FM radio station to go live with on-air party". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2020-03-19.