WPRR (AM)

This article is about the AM station in Ada, Michigan known as WPRR. For the AM station in Johnstown, Pennsylvania formerly known as WPRR, see WNTJ. For the railroad, see Willamette and Pacific Railroad.
WPRR
City Ada, Michigan
Broadcast area Grand Rapids, Michigan
Branding Public Reality Radio
Frequency 1680 kHz
Repeater(s) W237CZ 95.3 MHz, Grand Rapids
First air date October 1988
Format talk radio
Power 10,000 watts day
680 watts night
Class B
Facility ID 87106
Transmitter coordinates 42°56′9.00″N 85°27′26.00″W / 42.9358333°N 85.4572222°W / 42.9358333; -85.4572222
Callsign meaning W Public Reality Radio
Former callsigns WDSS (6/16/03-8/20/08)
WJNZ (10/15/98-6/16/03)
WBHD (9/4/88-10/15/98)
Affiliations Pacifica Radio
Owner Goodrich Radio, LLC
Website publicrealityradio.org

WPRR (1680 AM) is a talk radio station serving the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. The station is currently owned by Goodrich Radio.[1]

History

The WDSS logo used on the Grand Rapids page on Radio Disney's website.

The station went on the air as WBHD on September 4, 1998. On October 15, 1998, the station changed its call sign to WJNZ flipping to an Urban Contemporary format as "1680 Jamz," giving Grand Rapids its first 24-hour Urban station at the time, the call letters and format are now on AM 1140.

On June 16, 2003, the station changed the call letters to WDSS and placed the Radio Disney format on the frequency.[2] The station was poorly maintained during the Radio Disney years as station IDs were often mixed up and no ID was heard at the top of the hour.

On August 7, 2008, WDSS discontinued the Radio Disney format, switching to a continuous-loop announcement, announcing the changeover to a new "Public Reality Radio" format in September. The announcement also mentioned that the station's call sign would change over to WPRR on August 18 (the new calls actually took effect August 20).[3] According to station owner Bob Goodrich, Public Reality Radio will be a non-profit, educational endeavor, featuring "a variety of podcasts and programming."[4] On September 22, 2008, "Public Reality Radio" was launched, which includes programming from the Pacifica Radio network.

Translators

In 2010, WPRR established a repeater, W237CZ at 95.3 MHz. Goodrich would acquire the repeater from the Horizon Christian Fellowship in February 2010.[5]

On November 19, 2012, WPRR purchased WXPZ from Larlen Communications.[6] On July 5, 2014, WXPZ's callsign was changed to WPRR-FM.[7]

Call sign Frequency
(MHz) 		City of license ERP
W 		Height
m (ft) 		Class FCC info
WPRR-FM 90.1 Clyde Township, Allegan County, Michigan 5,000 57 m (187 ft) A FCC
W237CZ 95.3 Grand Rapids, Michigan 250 55.1 m (181 ft) D FCC

Programming

Programs aired on the station include Democracy Now!, Southpaws, The Thom Hartmann Program, The David Pakman Show, The Union Edge, Faith and Reason, Law and Disorder, The Boiling Kettles, Women Libs, Loud And Clear with Brian Becker, Drive For The Dream, Background Briefing, The Bradcast with Brad Friedman, and The Ralph Nader Radio Hour, among others.[8]

Southpaws

Local programming includes Southpaws, which is hosted by WPRR Program Director Darren Gibson, Joe Elder, April Crowe, and Jim Chase. The show airs live every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 am to noon. The three hosts talk about the current political news and topics of the day.

Women Libs

Among their newest programs is Women Libs, hosted by Erika 'Bryn' Perkins, Raina Cook, and Mary Harrington. This new program airs live every Monday from 10:00 am to noon. The show focuses on concerns and aspects of living in a "male dominated world", from the views of these three women and their listeners who are encouraged to call in to voice their own opinions.

References

  1. ↑ "WPRR Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. ↑ "Radio Disney Adds Grand Rapids". Radio World. NewBay Media, LLC. June 17, 2003. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  3. ↑ "WPRR Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. ↑ Grand Rapids Press, 9/7/2008
  5. ↑ FCC Consent to Assignment, February 23, 2010.
  6. ↑ Asset Purchase Agreement fcc.gov. September 19, 2012. Accessed February 7, 2015
  7. ↑ Call Sign History fcc.gov. Accessed February 7, 2015
  8. ↑ Programs Public Reality Radio. Accessed February 7, 2015
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