WETD (90.7 FM) was a

college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary sc ...

radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...

broadcasting a variety format. Licensed in

Alfred, New York Alfred is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Allegany County, New York, Allegany County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 4,896 at the 2020 census. The Town of Alfred has a Administrative divisions ...

, United States, the station was owned throughout its existence by Alfred State College and operated by the college's student body.

History

In the early 1960s, Alfred State College students tinkered with radio paraphernalia, providing entertainment to Happy Valley. A few members of the Engineering Technology faculty and staff took an interest, and soon WETD ("Engineering Technology Department") was an official

broadcasting Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

at 10 watts from the Engineering Building. There were strict programming rules and hours of operation; it was a character-building time for WETD, but mostly engineering-based. By the late 1960s, music and radio were a powerful means of increasing social awareness, which drew more than just engineers to the studio. In the 1970s, there was campus-wide involvement by students from all curricula, resulting in Alfred State College Student Senate funding the operation as a student club/organization. Also in the 1970s, the station moved its operations to the basement of the Orvis Activities Center, with much-needed equipment improvements installed in 1989 — new turntables, CD players, mixing board, reel to reel tape decks, cart machines, and powered by a 50-watt transmitter. But visibility was an issue, so plans were drafted in the 1990s to move the studios to the Orvis Activities Center with much more transmitter power and many more technology options. WETD received a construction permit from the

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, wi-fi, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains j ...

(FCC) to increase power from 350

watt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of Power (physics), power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantification (science), quantify the rate of Work ...

s to 3.5 kilowatts. On August 14, 2013, the WETD Main Studio was moved to a prime 4th floor location in the new $33 million Student Leadership Center (SLC) at Alfred State College. WETD DJs & alumni welcomed visitors on September 27, 2013, during ASC's Homecoming and Family Weekend events. WETD was actively involved in the local communities through on-air radio interviews and event announcements, as well as off-air through DJ events and community service projects. In March 2008, WETD set a goal and succeeded in raising over $1,100 from fellow students for needed children’s supplies at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville (town), New York; for this, the station was later awarded the 2007-08 Community Service Award by the Alfred State College Student Senate. In November 2008, WETD DJs assisted in raising over $1,500 for Literacy Volunteers of Allegany County's Breakfast with Santa program, and then volunteered to serve as Santa's Helper for these students and their families at the breakfast. Out of 80+ ASC clubs and organizations, WETD was awarded the Community Service Award (now called the Civic Engagement Award) five times. WETD students were committed to providing the best variety of music and programming in accordance with FCC regulations, as well as meeting the communities' needs both on-air and off. WETD held educational membership with the New York State Broadcasting Association (NYSBA) and the College Broadcasters Inc. (CBI). In August 2013, WETD was approved as an Associate member of the Wellsville (NY) Chamber of Commerce for its years of volunteer service at the Main Street Festival and the Great Wellsville Area Balloon Rally Clambake. WETD's license was cancelled June 2, 2022. It was one of several

State University of New York The State University of New York (SUNY ) is a system of Public education, public colleges and universities in the New York (state), State of New York. It is one of the List of largest universities and university networks by enrollment, larges ...

-owned student radio stations whose licenses were allowed to lapse that day, without filing for renewal.FCC Seeks Additional Information About TEGNA Acquisition
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References

External links

{{New York college radio ETD Radio stations established in 1973 1973 establishments in New York (state) Radio stations disestablished in 2022 2022 disestablishments in New York (state) Defunct radio stations in the United States ETD Alfred State College Allegany County, New York College radio stations in New York (state)