WPRB

WPRB traces its origins to a campus AM station, WPRU, that launched December 6, 1940. WPRU was founded by H. Grant Theis, a Princeton University student at the time. It often is cited as the oldest commercially licensed campus radio station in the United States.{{cite journal |title=WPRB acquires Nassau Weekly |author=W. Raymond Ollwerther |date=March 18, 2009 |journal=Princeton Alumni Weekly |volume=109 |issue=10 |pages=11}} In 1955, WPRU got its FM license. It signed on as WPRB, the first college station on the FM dial in the United States, after the WPRU call sign was found to be already in use by a ship.{{cite web |last1=Crum |first1=Dana |title=In focus: WPRB radio station |url=https://www.princeton.edu/news/2005/07/14/focus-wprb-radio-station |publisher=Princeton University |access-date=July 25, 2020 |date=July 14, 2005}} It is considered a pioneer in FM stereo broadcasting, transmitting a stereo signal beginning in 1964.

WPRB has broadcast on three different FM frequencies in its history: it first was heard on 103.9 MHz;[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1956/Radio-NE-Ter-1956-BC-YB.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1956 page 205] in 1959, it moved to 103.5 MHz;[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1961-62/Section%20B%202%20Radio%20%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201961-1962-10.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1961-1962 page B-105] and it moved to its current frequency of 103.3 MHz in 1962.[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1963/B%20N-Z%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201963.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1962 page B-115] During the 1960s and 1970s, it joined with other Ivy League universities to form the "Ivy Network", sharing some programming and resources. It later was an affiliate of the ABC FM Network.[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1977/C-2%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201977.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-134]

In 1986, Spin Magazine named WPRB the best commercial college station in the country.{{Cite web|last=Waits|first=Jennifer|date=May 25, 2016|title=Radio Station Field Trip #100 - WPRB at Princeton University|url=http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2016/05/25/radio-station-field-trip-100/|access-date=June 13, 2021|website=Radio Survivor|language=en-US}}

After decades of operation under an advertising-supported business model, in 2006 WPRB switched to a listener-supported model (although it remains a commercially licensed station). In 2009, WPRB went on to acquire a Princeton student magazine, the Nassau Weekly. Nassau Weekly was founded in 1979 by Princeton students including David Remnick, who later became the editor of The New Yorker.

One of its disc jockeys, Jon Solomon, has hosted a 24-hour+ Christmas music radiothon every year but one since 1988.{{cite web|last1=Waits|first1=Jennifer|date=December 20, 2018|title=WPRB DJ Jon Solomon Celebrates 30 Years of Christmas Marathons|url=http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2018/12/20/wprb-dj-jon-solomon-celebrates-30-years-of-christmas-marathons/|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Radio Survivor}}

WPRB was the first commercial radio station in the United States to play Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" when it debuted on John Weingart's long-running program "Music You Can't Hear on the Radio".{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

WPRB is a full class B signal. Its service contour covers most of Central Jersey and portions of the Philadelphia and New York City radio markets.{{cite web |url=https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/map-display#appid=1171263&call=WPRB&freq=103.3&contour=54&city=PRINCETON&state=NJ&fileno=BLH-20070221AAV&.map |title=54 dBu Service Contour for WPRB, 103.3 MHz, Princeton, NJ |website=fcc.gov |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=January 11, 2017}}

WPRB is short-spaced to two other class B stations: WKTU 103.5 KTU (licensed to Lake Success, New York) and WARM-FM Warm 103.3 (licensed to York, Pennsylvania). Since WPRB dates back to the early days of FM broadcasting (before current rules had been adopted) it is grandfathered on its current frequency and power level.

WPRB and WKTU operate on first adjacent channels and the distance between the two stations' transmitters is only 49 miles as determined by Federal Communications Commission rules.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=f3c56971693dd1afdad89a680fece345&mc=true&r=SECTION&n=se47.4.73_1208 |title=Reference points and distance computations. 47 CFR § 73.208 |access-date=August 22, 2021}} The minimum distance between two Class B stations operating on first adjacent channels according to current FCC rules is 105 miles.{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2012-title47-vol4/pdf/CFR-2012-title47-vol4-sec73-207.pdf |title=Minimum distance separation between stations. 47 CFR § 73.207 (b)(1) |access-date=May 12, 2016}}

WPRB and WARM-FM operate on the same channel and the distance between the two stations' transmitters is only 103 miles. The minimum distance between two Class B stations operating on the same channel according to current rules is 150 miles.

{{RadioTranslators

| call1 = W236CT

| freq1 = 95.1

| fid1 = 138032

| watts1 = 250

| class1 = D

| city1 = Edison, New Jersey

| coord1 = {{coord|40|31|45.5|N|74|23|32.2|W|region:US-NJ_type:landmark|name=W236CT}}

| notes1 = Relays WPRB-HD3

| call2 = W300CZ

| freq2 = 107.9

| fid2 = 141281

| watts2 = 100

| class2 = D

| city2 = Ewansville, New Jersey

| coord2 = {{coord|40|24|15|N|74|25|0|W|region:US-NJ_type:landmark|name=W300CZ}}

| notes2 = Relays WPRB-HD3

}}

• List of community radio stations in the United States

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|www.wprb.com}}
• {{FM station data|53567|WPRB}}
• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|138032|W236CT}}
• {{FMXL|W236CT}}
• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|141281|W300CZ}}
• {{FMXL|W300CZ}}

{{Trenton Radio}}

{{New Jersey college radio}}

{{Princeton}}

PRB

Category:Community radio stations in the United States

Category:Princeton University

Category:Radio stations established in 1955

Category:1955 establishments in New Jersey