WMPF

WMPF-LP 91.1FM

WMPF is a non-commercial, Non-Profit volunteer operated radio station serving the River Valley Region of Western Maine.

Due to music licensing costs, WMPF will not maintain a music stream/app until further notice.

Donations

Donations are appreciated and can be sent to our mailing address. All checks must be made out to River Valley Community Association.

WMPF
P.O. Box 91
Rumford, Maine 04276

Underwriting

Business donations are acknowledged through underwriting announcements. Underwriting can sponsor either the station in general, or a specific show, event or segment
In the event we are off the air for a day or portion thereof, we will extend acknowledgement time frame at the end of the period. Acknowledgements are considered donations and are not refundable, though you may request your acknowledgement be stopped at any time. Donations do not establish a contract for services, and do not imply editorial control of content.

History

In 2011, an opportunity arose for a non-profit entity to apply for a Low Power FM station. we researched the availability in the River Valley region and identified two frequencies with minimal interference. 91.1 and 102.3 were available in Rumford. At the time, we did not know that The Seventh Day Adventist school in Dixfield was also applying. we picked 91.1, and the SDA group chose 102.3. Had they both picked the same frequency, they would have competed with each other, requiring them to commit to numerous restrictions that would have become very costly to the Rumford group. we formed River Valley Community Association with a three member board. Then Town Manager Carlo Puiia suggested that the station could place their antenna at the town's High Street transmitter site. Unfortunetaly, that site would later become problematic due to concerns by the Police Chief Stacy Carter over interference with his 2-way communication. The group applied for and was granted the construction permit. Due to the concerns over the High Street location, they later filed to relocate the station to Kevin's garage, which is much lower, and reduces the coverage by 80%, but has fewer complications. When completing the engineering of this application, we consulted with an engineer who verified our work prior to the application being submitted.

The station is went on the air in December 2016. Once it is more established, plans include the re-location of the transmitter site to higher terrain.

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F.C.C. Guidance on Underwriting Spots

"Although an LPFM licensee may broadcast underwriting announcements identifying entities that donate to the station by name, such announcements may not promote an entity’s businesses, products, or services. In addition, such announcements may not contain comparative or qualitative descriptions; price information (sales or discounts); calls to action; inducements to buy, sell, rent, or lease; and excessively detailed “menu listings” of services offered by the entity. The Commission has not adopted any quantitative guidelines on underwriting announcements, but it has found that the longer the announcement, the more likely it is to contain material that is inconsistent with their “identification only” purpose. At the same time, however, the Commission has acknowledged that it is at times difficult to distinguish between language that promotes versus that which merely identifies the underwriter. Consequently, the Commission expects that licensees exercise reasonable “good faith” judgment in this area and affords some latitude to the judgments of licensees who do so."

Here is a link to further guidance from a legal resource:
https://www.commlawblog.com/2009/03/articles/broadcast/lpfm-stuck-with-20k-fine-for-advertisements/