WSRN-FM
Encyclopedia
WSRN-FM The "Worldwide Swarthmore Radio Network") is Swarthmore College
's official campus
radio station
. It broadcasts out of the suburban Philadelphia borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
.
Prior to the 1970s, WSRN operated as a carrier signal broadcast to the campus of Swarthmore College only. Following efforts by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to take over such low power frequencies, a campaign was raised by the students of the college, and in the late 1970s, the FCC granted a license for a 110-watt, directional, transmission. According to the regulations in force at the time, any station with a signal wattage of 100 watts or less was considered to be a low-power station and subject to limitation in favor of larger stations. Programming has been eclectic from the 1970s on. Station programming is diverse; music spans "world," hip hop, blues, folk, rock, pop, R & B, and classical. Talk and comedy programs comprise much of the weekend line-up.
In 1986, the main on-air studio was completely refurbished, with a new control panel, turntables, microphones, and wiring installed. 1998 saw the rewiring and modernization of the production studio and the construction of an acoustically isolated sound studio connected to the production studio.
Students have always manned the soundboard and so during most summers the station is dark.
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
's official campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
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...
. It broadcasts out of the suburban Philadelphia borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Swarthmore was originally named Westdale in honor of noted painter Benjamin West, who was one of the early residents of the town. The name was changed to Swarthmore after the establishment of Swarthmore College...
.
Prior to the 1970s, WSRN operated as a carrier signal broadcast to the campus of Swarthmore College only. Following efforts by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) to take over such low power frequencies, a campaign was raised by the students of the college, and in the late 1970s, the FCC granted a license for a 110-watt, directional, transmission. According to the regulations in force at the time, any station with a signal wattage of 100 watts or less was considered to be a low-power station and subject to limitation in favor of larger stations. Programming has been eclectic from the 1970s on. Station programming is diverse; music spans "world," hip hop, blues, folk, rock, pop, R & B, and classical. Talk and comedy programs comprise much of the weekend line-up.
In 1986, the main on-air studio was completely refurbished, with a new control panel, turntables, microphones, and wiring installed. 1998 saw the rewiring and modernization of the production studio and the construction of an acoustically isolated sound studio connected to the production studio.
Students have always manned the soundboard and so during most summers the station is dark.