By Graham Russell
Staff Writer
Commons Photo by Timothy Reese

WCOM-LP is not glamorous.

Broadcasting from a small, renovated drive-in teller booth at 201 Greensboro St., the station is obviously not part of the traditional mainstream media.

But to the people responsible for the station, that’s not such a bad thing.

In an effort that could be described as uniquely Carrboro, WCOM FM 103.5 is an almost completely volunteer effort to provide almost completely local content.

The community radio station was created under a Federal Communications Commission service introduced in 2000. The new service, Low Power FM, allows communities to create their own small stations outside the scope of dominating radio-broadcasting companies like Clear Channel Communications. Only noncommercial groups are eligible for the service.

With the financial help of a federal grant, WCOM— one of 25 stations of its kind in North Carolina — was the first to go on the air. It broadcasts from an antenna at Scroggs Elementary School in Southern Village and can be heard from a distance of about three to four miles.

The station began in June 2004 with a pre-recorded, 30-minute clip describing the aims of the project in both English and Spanish. In late September the studio’s construction was completed. The station first broadcasted local music, and then, later, talk shows.

Programming at the station is as varied as the town itself. In addition to music of all sorts, WCOM features a sports call-in show, “After Further Review,” a science show, “Radio in Vivo” with host Ernie Hood, and a youth-run show titled “Teen Spirit.” It also offers “Public Access,” airtime anyone can write in and request to use.

WCOM also broadcasts a large amount of Spanish-language programming both in the early afternoon and late at night. Most of it is provided by Radio Bilingue, a Latino-controlled, non-profit group with affiliates nationwide.

Many Carrboro businesses have lent their support to the radio station and its shows. Even cartoonist Doug Marlette, creator of the comic strip “Kudzu”, drew a design for the station’s T-shirt, which is given to those who donate at least $60.
The station accepts donations through its Web site, www.communityradio.coop, and through its sponsoring organization, the Public Gallery of Carrboro.

And check out:
http://audio-mp3.ibiblio.org:8000/wcom-hifi.mp3