WAVM

Infobox Radio station
name = WAVM


city = Maynard, Massachusetts
area =
slogan =
branding =
frequency = 91.7 MHz
airdate =
share =
share as of =
share source =
format = Other
power =
erp =
haat = -2.0 meters
class = D
facility_id = 40791
coordinates = coord|42|25|18.00|N| 71|27|2.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = Maynard
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website = [http://www.wavm.org wavm.org]
affiliations =

, WAVM has aided the careers of several of the school's successful alumni.

FCC Controversy

, with minimal local programming.

Another interested party was WUMB (91.9), the radio station of the University of Massachusetts Boston. WAVM entered into an agreement with WUMB to jointly own the frequency and their partnership has since been appealing the FCC's decision.

Congressional Representative Marty Meehan and Senators John Kerry and Ted Kennedy have all contributed their support to WAVM in the form of letters to the FCC, and the station's plight has attracted national attention.

The station was sent deeper into turmoil when station founder and faculty administrator Joseph Magno was arrested and charged with sexual assault in January 2006. [cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/01/09/maynard_teacher_pleads_not_guilty_to_sex_charges/ |date=2006-01-09 |work=The Boston Globe |title=Maynard teacher pleads not guilty to sex charges] Magno died in January 2007 of an apparent heart attack, just before his trial could begin. [cite news |date=2007-01-28 |first=Melissa |last=Beecher |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/28/regret_joins_relief_over_magno/ |work=The Boston Globe |title=Regret joins relief over Magno]

The FCC and all other parties involved have come to an agreement. WAVM will increase power from 10 to 250 watts and maintain its partnership with WUMB. Living Proof Inc. of California will change its frequency to not interfere with WAVM.

Telethon

Every year WAVM hosts a telethon which donates money to the needy in the areas getting the Beacon newspaper. Taking place over one weekend in December, this is a 40 hour event, meaning that there are students working every hour of the night and day. There are normally six- seven telethon hosts, who stay up for the full forty hours.

This telethon earns money for the poor and needy many ways. They have each staff member accumulate at least 100 dollars in donations and pledges in order to stay overnight. An auction takes place up until one hour before the end of the telethon, with hundreds of items being bid on. Every donation of 25 dollars or more goes up on the Donor Board.

Popular acts that tend to reappear are a colonial marching band, Christmas Carol singing, and Mrs. Clause reading a story to children.

The Grand Finale takes place at noon on Sunday, where the hosts thank the sponsors, donors, and parent volunteers, and reveal the grand total, which they are always striving to get higher than the previous year. The Telethon raises an average of $40,000 a year for needy families of surrounding communities so that they can have a proper Christmas.

References

External links

* [http://wavm.org WAVM official site]
*FMQ|WAVM
*FML|WAVM
*FMARB|WAVM
* [http://www.livingproofinc.com/ Living Proof, Inc.] - The California-based broadcaster that challenged WAVM's license