WHYR-LP (sometimes pronounced "wire") is a radio station

Radio station

Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...

 licensed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...

, USA. The LP stands for low power broadcasting. The station began broadcasting on June 24, 2011 in a testing phase. As of July 2011, the station is playing a loop of prerecorded music as planning continues for future programming, including shows covering topics like politics, local music, food and drink, as well as nationally syndicated shows from Pacifica Radio

Pacifica Radio

Pacifica Radio is the oldest public radio network in the United States. It is a group of five independently operated, non-commercial, listener-supported radio stations that is known for its progressive/liberal political orientation. It is also a program service supplying over 100 affiliated...

 like Democracy Now!

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...

and more. The station is owned by Baton Rouge Progressive Network.

Station Timeline

• June 2000: Baton Rouge Progressive Network (BRPN) applies to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate a low power FM radio station.
• September 2004: FCC awards BRPN with a construction permit and assigns the call letters WHYR‐LP.
• November 2005: An unaffiliated entity, who also applied for a permit in 2000 but did not receive one, files unauthorized documents with the FCC to transfer control of WHYR‐LP to them.
• March 2006: BRPN becomes aware of the unauthorized transfer and alerts the FCC.
• January 2010: The FCC fines the unauthorized entity and returns control of WHYR‐LP to BRPN.
• February 2011: BRPN forms the Radio Advisory Council (RAC) to make managerial and operational decisions related to the station.
• February 2011: A transmission site is secured.
• March 2011: Antenna purchased.
• April 2011: Transmitter and STL equipment purchased. The website http://www.whyr.org is launched.
• June 2011: Leased 1623 Main Street in Baton Rouge as site for studio. On June 24, 2011: began broadcasting.