First public radio station broadcasts from University of Wisconsin.
1938 PBS
FCC establishes new type of high-frequency broadcast station for noncommercial radio.
1945 PBS
FCC reserves 20 channels (88-92MHz) exclusively for noncommercial FM radio broadcasting.
1949 PBS
Pacifica Foundation started KPFFA, Berkeley, CA, first nonprofit, community-run station.
1952 PBS
FCC reserves educational channels throughout nation in first allocation of television channels.
1953 PBS
KUHT-TV activates in Houston, TX, first noncommercial television station. 1962 PBS Federal government funds public broadcasting through Education Television Facilities Act.
1967 PBS
Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 becomes law.
1967 WXEL
Hagen Ranch Elementary School requests FM radio license for innovative approach to educate migrant families.
1967 WXEL
Corporation for Public Broadcasting(CPB) is formed; Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood debuts.
1969 PBS
Regular national TV program distribution begins, five nights a week; Sesame Street goes on the air; CPB forms PBS.
1969 WXEL
WHRS (later to become WXEL), the nation’s first radio station designed to bridge the gap between migrant workers and middle class, goes on the air.
1970 PBS
CPB forms National Public Radio(NPR).
1971 PBS
NPR’s All Things Considered premiers.
1972 WXEL
WHRRS becomes NPR affiliate. Receives national recognition from NASA for nation’s first Spanish-language space launch broadcast of Apollo 16.
1974 WXEL
Station emphasis changes to classical music, fine art, with Spanish language and bilingual programs in early morning hours.
1975 PBS
The Robert MacNeil Report (forerunner of MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour) debuts.
1975 WXEL
Friends of Public Broadcasting group is formed to help support work of WHRS. They call for the creation of a local public television station.
1977 WXEL
WHRS boosts power to 35,500 kilowatts and moves to 90.7 frequency. 1979 PBS NPR’s Morning Edition premiers.
1980 WXEL
Construction of television antenna begins.
1981 WXEL
WHRS FM license moves from Palm Beach County School Board to private South Florida Public Telecommunications, Inc. (SFPT), which also is the licensee for WWPF/Ch.42.
1982 WXEL
WHRS TV (originally called WWPF) signs on the air with broadcast of Sesame Street. Shortly after, Jim Barry hosts Financial Freedom, WHRS’ first local television production.
1985 WXEL
WHRS officially changes call letters to WXEL.
1994 WXEL
SFPT develops organization’s first mission and vision statements, setting future direction based on educational broadcast and non-broadcast communication services. WXEL and Palm Beach Community College provide distance learning with the area’s first college-credit telecourse broadcast.
1995 WXEL
WXEL & WLRN - Miami create the Southeastern Regional Ready to Learn Service—the nation’s largest community-based program geared towards getting children ready for education.
1997 WXEL
WXEL merges with Barry University. Jerry Carr becomes President and CEO.
2000 WXEL
WXEL-Sun-Sentinel News premieres in May on 90.7FM.
2002 WXEL
WXEL TV42 celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
2003 WXEL
WXEL 90.7FM has raises its antenna height by 314% and increases its power by 152% to better serve South Florida and The Treasure Coast.
2004 WXEL
WXEL begins digital transmission on July 4, 2004 on channel 27.
NTIA Now Accepting Requests For Converter Box Coupons
The NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) is NOW accepting requests for two $ 40 coupons per household to be used toward the purchase of the DTV converter boxes.
To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at http://www.dtv2009.gov.
The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
Countdown to Digital TV
Note the date: Feb. 17, 2009
Americans with older, analog televisions, which receive signals by antenna, must switch to digital by February 17, 2009. Subscribers to cable or satellite service should ask their providers if they need special equipment for digital reception. If you don't buy a digital model, a converter box will change the digital signals back to analog. The boxes range from $ 50 to $ 75 each, but starting January 1, 2008, U.S. households may request up to two $ 40 coupons, to apply to the purchase of the boxes. For more information, go to http://www.dtv.gov or call 1.888.225.5322.
Click here for more digital television information
