Broadcast Coverage Maps
FM Stations - Detail         FM Stations - Printable
AM Stations - Detail         AM Stations - Printable

Public Radio Stations in State

Main stations in bold followed by associated repeaters and translators
Facilities in italics operated by out‑of‑state broadcasters
Location in ( ) - actual location of transmitting facilities
N - New facility since 1989 study     # - Station now meets study criteria

FM Stations
WSHU		91.1	Fairfield		W233AG	N	94.5	New London
W227AJ	N	93.3	Northford		W233AJ	N	94.5	Old Saybrook
W211AI	N	90.1	Stamford		W220CE	N	91.9	Southington
WMNR		88.1	Monroe		W218AV	N	91.5	Warren
WGRS	N	91.5	Guilford		W220CH	N	91.9	West Hartford
WMNR1	N	88.1	Huntington		WNPR		89.1	Norwich
WRXC	N	90.1	Shelton		WPKT		90.5	Meriden
WGSK	N	90.1	South Kent		WEDW		88.5	Stamford
W220AC	N	91.9	Fairfield		W258AC	N	99.5	Storrs
W220CF	N	91.9	Huntington		WHUS	#	91.7	Storrs
W252AS	N	98.3	New Haven		WECS	#	90.1	Willimantic

AM Stations

WSHU                    1260    Westport

General Comments

Connecticut's public radio service is provided by both educational institutions and community licensees. Three broadcasters provide coverage to large portions of the state and many communities receive multiple program service.  The licensee of WNPR also provides statewide public television service in Connecticut.   There is one AM station in the state.

FM Service

Connecticut public broadcasters have improved service since the 1989 PTFP study with the construction of three stations.  WMNR constructed a station in South Kent to provide service in an area of northwest Connecticut identified as unserved in the 1989 study.  WMNR also built stations in Guilford and Shelton to provide additional services in those areas.  WMNR built eight of the eleven new translators that now supplement service in the state and installed a FM booster at Huntington.  Two stations that were operating in 1989, WHUS and WECS did not meet the 1989 study criteria but now meet the study criteria and are included on the station list.  Ten stations, one booster station and eleven translators provide service statewide.

Despite the addition of four stations, one booster station and eleven translators, the percentage of Connecticut's population covered by public radio shows little change from that reported in the 1989 study, remaining at approximately 98% coverage.  The number of people without service has decreased from 63,000 in 1989 to 43,479 currently. 

Two Connecticut-based public broadcasters provide service to Connecticut from FM stations located in New York State and broadcast across Long Island Sound.  These stations are WSUF located near Noyack, New York (operated by WSHU) and WRLI South Hampton, New York (operated by WNPR).  

AM Service

WSHU operates WSHU(AM) 1260 kHz at Westport in Fairfield County and broadcasts with 1 kW power during the daytime hours and nine watts at night.  Southeast Connecticut also receives AM coverage from stations in Rhode Island and the southern coast receives AM service from New York City.    

Service from Adjacent States

Significant population centers in southern Connecticut receive public radio service from FM stations located in New York City and on Long Island.  As noted above, two Connecticut based public broadcasters provide service to Connecticut from FM stations located on Long Island near Noyack and South Hampton.  North-central Connecticut receives public radio service from WTCC Springfield in Massachusetts.  Portions of Connecticut also receive AM radio service from New York City and Rhode Island.

Unserved Areas

Region A  

Western Connecticut is characterized by steep hills, ridges and river valleys.  Litchfield County in the northwest corner of the state and the northern portion of Fairfield County continue to receive spotty public radio signals as reported in the 1989 study due to the Taconic Mountains. Terrain variations and lack of frequencies limit the options for providing public radio service.  Nearly 31,000 residents lack quality service in this region.

Region B  

Almost 10,000 residents of Windham County in the northeast corner of the state do not receive public radio service due to natural barriers resulting from terrain formations.  In addition, the proximity of this region to Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, also limit the options for providing public radio services to the region.