WWNW Digital 88.9 FM, Westminster's College's radio station, will soon expand its coverage area.

 "Until this summer, the station was very low power - 100 watts at a low location on campus," said Dr. David Barner, chair of the Department of Communication Studies, Theatre, and Art.  "This summer the antenna was moved to the borough tower on the hill across from the President's house, and power was increased to 200 watts."

 "The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has just granted the College's request for a 4000-watt station," Barner said.  "This would greatly extend the coverage area.  Broadcast students will have the ability to develop programming to serve a broader off-campus community, since the signal will now be strong enough to do so.  The coverage area will cover all of Lawrence County and expand into Eastern Ohio and north to the Shenango Valley."

 "Titan radio's goal will be to serve our community with quality programming, including Titan sports broadcasts, while giving Westminster students the opportunity to gain experience in the real world," Barner said.  "The radio staff is excited that more alumni and local residents will benefit from our increased signal."
 
 "What we need to do now is to secure the funding for this $30,000 project, which includes a new antenna and increased transmitting power," Barner said.  "We hope to complete the project by the summer of 2006."

 WWNW-88.9 FM is the only FM station with studios and transmitter in Lawrence County, and Barner has promised to broadcast continuous Christmas music mid-December until Jan. 1.

 For more information, contact Barner at (724) 946-7239 or e-mail barnerdl@westminster.edu.

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