WAPS (FM)

WAPS (91.3 FM) – branded 91.3 The Summit – is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to Akron, Ohio. Owned and operated by Akron Public Schools, the station airs Adult Album Alternative (AAA). WAPS has a standard analog transmission and broadcasts to over four HD Radio channels, and is available online.[2][3][4]

WAPS
Broadcast areaAkron metro area
Frequency91.3 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding91.3 The Summit
Programming
FormatAdult album alternative
SubchannelsHD2: Modern rock
HD3: Children's radio
HD4: Rock music
AffiliationsNPR
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
September 1955 (1955-09)
Former frequencies
89.1 MHz (1955–94)
Call sign meaning
Akron Public Schools
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID6051
ClassA
ERP2,000 watts (analog)
80 watts (digital)
HAAT46 meters (151 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°03′18.00″N 81°31′35.00″W
Translator(s)90.1 MHz W211BT (Athens)
Repeater(s)90.7 WKTL (Struthers)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Website913thesummit.com

WAPS primarily serves the Akron metro area, but also simulcasts over a single full-power repeater: WKTL (90.7 FM), licensed to Struthers, and operated by Struthers High School, which broadcasts the WAPS signal to the Youngstown metro area.[5]

Funding

Non-commercial WAPS relies on listener membership subscriptions/donations for much of its annual funding. Additional funding is provided by local and regional businesses and organizations, which underwrite station programming, and grant funds from local and regional philanthropic organizations. The station receives a Community Service Grant from the Corporation For Public Broadcasting. As of 2009, it receives no direct financial support from owner Akron Public Schools.

Signal

Founded in September 1955, WAPS originally broadcast on 89.1 until moving to 91.3 in August 1994 to increase signal coverage. The station moved the transmitter site in December 2002 from the original antenna atop the studio building at 70 North Broadway Street, to the Channel 23 television tower to increase signal coverage to points west and south of Akron. In October 2008, WAPS installed a digital transmitter and panel antenna system to maximize the 2,000-watt signal and to begin broadcasting in HD Radio. As part of the HD radio initiative, it launched a HD2 audio channel originally named "Summit Flashbacks," offering a commercial-free mix of "new wave" inspired music from the years 1976 through 1994. This channel was rebranded as "The 330", with music produced by artists from northeast Ohio.

In June 2010, WAPS launched a HD3 station for children called KIDJAM! Radio. KIDJAM! Radio aims "to embrace technology by combining high-quality entertainment with a solid foundation for strengthening self-esteem, providing simple steps to good nutrition and developing a positive attitude."[6] The station has its own website, which includes a live online audio stream, www.kidjamradio.com.[7]

In September 2011, Rock & Recovery launched a multimedia subscription-free service for those in addiction recovery, their families and health care professionals. It hosted its inaugural broadcast on September 15 from Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens.

Recognition

WAPS was nominated by Radio and Records Magazine's Industry Achievement Awards as "Triple A Radio Station of The Year: Markets 50+ Noncommercial", in 2006 and 2008. Readers of local publication Akron Life and Leisure Magazine voted WAPS as "Best Radio Station" in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

WAPS was listed as one of the "40 Best Little Radio Stations in the U.S." by Paste Magazine in 2010.[8] The station was also recognized as the "Volunteer of the Year" by Akron Public Schools in 2010 for their Music Alive instrument donation program.[9]

References
  1. "Facility Technical Data for WAPS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "WAPS 91.3 FM Radio Station Information - Radio Lineup".
  3. "91.3 The Summit Streaming Audio". Archived from the original on 2006-10-23.
  4. http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=73 HD Radio Guide for Akron
  5. "WAPS FM 91.3 - radio station in Akron, Ohio USA with local news and weather, NPR network programs". Mondotimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  6. "KIDJAM! Philosophy". KIDJAM! Radio. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  7. "Akron Ohio's Premiere Children's Radio Station!". KIDJAM! Radio. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  8. Published at 7:00 AM on September 23, 2010 By Josh Jackson (2010-09-23). "The 40 Best Little Radio Stations in the U.S.: Blogs: List of the Day: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  9. "Music Alive". 913thesummit.com. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
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