WEER (88.7 FM) is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Montauk, New York, since 2006. Owned by The WNET Group, it simulcasts WLIW-FM to Montauk and East Hampton, New York.[4][5]

WEER
Satellite of WLIW-FM, Southampton
Broadcast areaEastern Long Island
Frequency88.7 MHz
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatPublic radio
Ownership
Owner
  • The WNET Group
  • (WNET)
WLIW-FM, WLIW, WNET, NJ PBS, WMBQ-CD, WNDT-CD
History
First air date
August 30, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-08-30)
Former call signs
WPKM (2004–2011)[1]
Call sign meaning
East End Radio[2]
Technical information[3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID91175
ClassA
ERP
  • 1,700 watts (vertical)
  • 5 watts (horizontal)
HAAT91 meters (299 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°01′55″N 71°58′33″W / 41.03194°N 71.97583°W / 41.03194; -71.97583
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.wliw.org/radio/

History

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This station received its original construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission on March 21, 2002.[6] The new station, originally owned by WPKN, Inc. was assigned the WPKM call sign by the FCC on November 26, 2004.[7][1] WPKM received its license to cover from the FCC on August 30, 2006,[8] and began simulcasting WPKN, Bridgeport, Connecticut.

In October 2010, license holder WPKN, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Hamptons Community Radio Corporation for $60,000. The deal was approved by the FCC on December 8, 2010, and the transaction was consummated on June 6, 2011.[9] The station changed its call sign to WEER on June 16, 2011, with a call sign swap with the now-defunct WEEG.[1]

Silence (2011–2013)

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On October 1, 2011, WEER went silent for financial reasons and the licensee filed a request with the FCC for special temporary authority to remain silent. The Commission granted this authority on January 2, 2012, with a scheduled expiration of July 2, 2012.[10] Just days before that deadline, a new application was filed and silent authority was extended through October 2, 2012.[11] Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as a matter of law a radio station's broadcast license is subject to automatic forfeiture and cancellation if they fail to broadcast for one full year.[12]

The station reported that it returned to normal broadcast operations on September 27, 2012.[13] However, power loss and damage from Hurricane Sandy knocked the station off the air again on October 29, 2012.[14] On January 29, 2013, the station was granted a new authority to remain silent with an expiration date on July 28, 2013.[14]

On the air (2013–present)

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In October 2013 the station was returned to the air, and sold to Eastern Tower Corporation. The sale was consummated on January 22, 2014. In February 2019, WEER began broadcasting a Soft AC format with music from the 60s thru 80s.

On January 16, 2023, it was announced that The WNET Group would acquire WEER for $100,000, making it a sister to Long Island NPR member station WLIW-FM.[15] The deal closed on October 10, 2023.[16] On October 13, 2023, WEER filed a request with the FCC for special temporary authority to remain silent, while it processed the purchasing and installing of equipment, so that it could simulcast WLIW-FM.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. June 16, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  2. ^ O'Reilly, Brendan (November 5, 2008). "FCC approves new East End radio station". The East Hampton Press. East Hampton, NY. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  3. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WEER". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ "Station Information Profile". Nielsen Audio. Archived from the original on March 19, 2006. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  5. ^ Young, Beth (May 25, 2010). "New radio station will focus on East End community". The East Hampton Press. East Hampton, NY. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  6. ^ "Application Search Details ()". FCC Media Bureau. March 21, 2002. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  7. ^ "Great Station" (PDF). The East Hampton Star. March 17, 2005. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  8. ^ "Application Search Details ()". FCC Media Bureau. August 30, 2006. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  9. ^ "Application Search Details (BALED-20101021ACY)". FCC Media Bureau. June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  10. ^ "Application Search Details (BLSTA-20111004ACD)". FCC Media Bureau. January 3, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  11. ^ "Application Search Details (BLESTA-20120629AAE)". FCC Media Bureau. September 6, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  12. ^ "Silent AM and FM Broadcast Station Lists". The FCC Encyclopedia. Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  13. ^ "Resumption of Operations". FCC Media Bureau. September 28, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BLSTA-20121107AEG)". FCC Media Bureau. January 29, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  15. ^ Falk, Tyler (January 17, 2023). "WNET to buy New York radio station". current.org. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Notification of Consummation". fcc.gov. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  17. ^ "Request for Silent Authority of a Full Power FM Station Application". fcc.gov. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
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