WPAA

WPAA is a radio station, broadcasting from the campus of Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. Founded using Phillips alum and then-NBC president Robert Sarnoff's gift of $15,000, the station was launched in 1965 by a host of famous personalities, including Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, David Brinkley, Sammy Davis Jr., and Hugh Downs. The station's signal was powered by a 33 watt transmitter and reached over 104 square kilometers, which, at launch, had the potential to reach over 150,000 people.

Phillips Academy Radio (WPAA)
Location
Information
Established1965
Websitewww.WPAA.com

History

WPAA was licensed on April 26, 1965. It was a 10-watt station on 91.7 FM broadcasting from Evans Hall. The station later increased its power to 25 watts in 1984.

In 2004, the Federal Communications Commission visited and inspected the Class D station, determining it was off the air for more than a year—cause for the deletion of its license. The Andover public school system had attempted to take over operations several years prior. With the deletion of the FM license, the station went Internet-only at WPAA.com. Additionally, Evans Hall was demolished in 2004, and the station was relocated to the basement of Morse Hall.

The deletion of WPAA's license prompted two further changes. Commercial station WXRV relocated its city of license from Haverhill to Andover, becoming the first/only radio service for the town, and Newburyport's WNEF 91.7 altered its signal pattern to put more power toward Andover. Lowell's WUML was built with a directional signal to protect WPAA, which still is used.

In addition to its online broadcasts, WPAA also offers recording opportunities for student performers and provides live sound equipment for nearly all campus events, including the station's "Battle of the Bands" every spring.


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