WPVM-LP
 | |
| City | Asheville, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Branding | The Voice of Asheville |
| Frequency | 103.7 MHz |
| First air date | 2003 |
| Format |
Variety Public affairs |
| Language(s) | English |
| ERP | 100 watts |
| HAAT | 18 meters |
| Class | L1 |
| Facility ID | 133357 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 35°35′48.8″N 82°13′19.2″W / 35.596889°N 82.222000°W |
| Former frequencies | 103.5 MHz (2004-2013) |
| Affiliations | Pacifica Radio |
| Owner | Friends of WPVM, Inc. |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | http://www.wpvmfm.org |
WPVM-LP (103.7 FM) is a non-commercial LPFM radio station located in Asheville, North Carolina.
On May 8, 2015, the FCC granted a transfer of the FCC license to broadcast from the Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) to Friends of WPVM. The station has been under new management by Friends of WPVM since on June 29, 2015.
History
The Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) was granted a license by the FCC and a construction permit was assigned on Dec.30, 2002 and began broadcasting in October, 2003 under an LPFM Class 1 license for 100 watts effective radiated power (ERP).
History The Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) was granted a license by the FCC and a construction permit was assigned on Dec.30, 2002 and began broadcasting in October, 2003 under an LPFM Class 1 license for 100 watts effective radiated power (ERP). After years of dormancy (between 2011- 2015) due to financial problems, MAIN's Board of Directors voted to divest of the station in September 2014. One Director was opposed to the divestiture and launched a very hostile sabotage plan to prevent the transfer,and much drama ensued. Working from a pristinely legal foundation, the non-profit Friends of WPVM the MAIN Board of Directors majority chose as recipient of the FCC license forged ahead under extremely hostile circumstances and accomplished the necessary steps required by the FCC in order to be eligible to receive the license. The FCC granted the license transfer on May 8, 2015. The station's broadcast equipment was obsolete or in dis-repair, wiring for the station was inadequate resulting in dropping off or interruption of the broadcast signal. Upon Friends of WPVM acquisition of the FCC license all obsolete equipment has been replaced, wiring has been replaced and properly tagged, the station now has state of the art technical equipment to provide a superior signal to the listening audience. WPVM fm is now financially solvent, has a new convenient location in downtown Asheville, and is on its way to becoming the best radio station in the City of Asheville, NC.
The station remained dormant between 2011- 2015 due to financial problems. After the license was acquired by Friends of WPVM, Inc, the new board, under the leadership of Davyne Dial, began a concerted effort to remedy financial problems and to replace obsolete technology. The non-profit also assembled a Board of Directors committed to the long-term mission of WPVM and local public radio. As part of that process, certain Board members, who had resisted the transfer of the license, were disciplined and given an opportunity to present their side of the story. However, all of them refused to appear or provide any substantiation for their actions. Instead, two individuals formerly associated with WPVM made false and misleading statements to public media, including a reporter for the Mountain Express and a local blogger.[1][2] As a result of false statements, Ms. Dial filed a defamation action against Jacquie Hammond, one of the former WPVM associates. In February 2017 the defamation lawsuit was settled. As part of that settlement, Ms. Hammond publicly acknowledged that she had made malicious and confabulated statements about Davyne Dial and WPVM, including comments which were included in the blog and the Mountain Express article. In the joint press release, Jacquie Hammond stated: "I have engaged in a long-running malicious smear campaign against Davyne Dial and WPVM." In addition, Ms. Hammond agreed to a judgment against her for $500,000, including $250,000 in punitive damages. The Consent Judgment was signed on February 8, 2017 by Superior Court Judge Gregory Horne, in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The Consent Judgment is a matter of public record.[3]
References
- ↑ "Amid heated controversy, WPVM charts a new course". Mountain Xpress. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
- ↑ "Local Radio Station WPVM Experiences Hostile Takeover". ashevilleblog.com. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
- ↑ Boyle, John (11 February 2017). "Facebook defamation leads to $500,000 settlement in Asheville". Citizen-Times. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
American Bar Association coverage of precedent setting defamation lawsuit settlement. http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/facebook_comment_leads_to_500000_settlement_in_defamation_suit