From the Cape Cod Times, April 7, 1999

PUBLIC RADIO WILL INCLUDE CAPE FLAIR

By Paula Peters
Staff Writer

WOODS HOLE - The voices, sounds and history of the Cape and islands may be what sets the new National Public Radio stations planned for Woods Hole apart from other stations. Yesterday, organizers of the WCAI and WNAN stations, scheduled to go on air by Jan. 1, 2000, began a dialog with local community and business people to get input on programming for the area's first locally based NPR station.

"We have a clean slate, a blank canvas, we can create it," said stations founder Jay Allison at a luncheon at the Fishmonger in Woods Hole hosted by WCAI, WNAN and WGBH, a partner in the effort to launch the station.

The unique alliance was formed two years ago when Allison approached WGBH with his dream of bringing an NPR station to an underserved area.

Several repeater stations provide NPR programming to the Cape and islands.

But the new stations, NAN 91.1 to serve Nantucket, and CAI 90.1 serving Martha's Vineyard and the Upper and most of the Mid-Cape and the south coast of Massachusetts, would include local programming. The signal will be strong and clear, "and you won't be hearing Boston traffic and weather," Allison said.

About 40 people attended the lunch and were introduced to the soundscapes that will be an integral part of the stations' approach. The soundscapes are voices of local people who paint an image of the Cape and islands with stories and songs.

A Cape and islands oral history project, which was awarded a $20,000 planning grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities last summer will also be a local feature.

Allison said they plan to take advantage of the marine and science expertise in the area as well as produce some local programming which will likely be carried nationally.

The station will also be carrying NPR's most popular news, talk and commentary programs including Morning Edition, Fresh Air, Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered, and Car Talk.

In order to transmit to both islands and the Cape WCAI will transmit from a 6,500-watt tower located on Martha's Vineyard, and WNAN will transmit to Nantucket from a 1,400-watt tower.

Nannette Drake Oldenbourg of West Falmouth is excited about the potential for the station and said the community should not take the opportunity for granted. "Cities like San Francisco would kill to have this, and who has it? We do, right here in this idyllic community," Oldenbourg said.

Allison said the station is a production manager's dream come true. "We do live in a place people feel is magical," he said. "We have a chance to really have this be special, even on a national level."

A soundproof studio is ready for occupancy at 3 Water St. in Woods Hole, where the administrative offices for the two stations are located.

Last year, Allison had hoped the stations would be on the air by this spring. But the construction of the transmitters on each island has been a stumbling block.

The station will operate on an annual budget of about $500,000 and will be funded by a combination of underwriting, foundation support and listener support.