NTIA / PTFP: Public Broadcasting Coverage

MAINE


State population (2000 census)		1,274,923

Population receiving a FM public radio signal		1,136,198	89.1%
(from both in and out-of-state stations)
Population in uncovered areas		138,725

Stations in State	FM stations	9
	FM translators	2
	AM stations	0

1989 PTFP Study:	Population receiving a
	FM public radio signal	933,000	83%

Broadcast Coverage Maps

FM Stations - Detail FM 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

WMEH
90.9
Bangor    WMEM
106.1
Presque Isle

   WMED
89.7
Calais    WMEW
91.3
Waterville

   WMEP N
90.5
Camden WERU
89.9
Blue Hill

   WMEF N
106.5
Ft. Kent    W275AE N
102.9
Bangor

   WMEA
90.1
Portland WMPG #
90.9
Gorham

(Lewiston)    W281AC N
104.1
Portland

AM Stations

None
General Comments
Maine Public Broadcasting, the state public radio and television network, is the primary provider of public radio in the state, together with local community and university licensees. Radio coverage follows the major population centers in the state along the Atlantic coastline and through the northeast along the Canadian border. Bangor and Portland receive multiple program services.
FM Service
Maine Public Broadcasting operates its flagship station in Bangor, as well as six repeater stations throughout the state. Since the 1989 PTFP study, significant improvement is found in the coverage provided to the major populated coastline areas and a new station was established in the remote and rugged interior of the state. Two stations were added to the Maine Public Broadcasting network: WMEP was installed in 2002 at Camden on Maine's Atlantic coast and covered a previously unserved area, and WMEF was installed in 1994 in Ft. Kent on a commercial frequency to serve the northern tip of the state. Use of the commercial frequency allowed the state network to circumvent interference issues with a channel 6 television station in Canada. To provide additional service, WERU Blue Hill added a translator in Bangor. WMPG Gorham, which did not meet the criteria of the 1989 study, now meets the study criteria and is indicated with the # symbol on the station list.
The percentage of population receiving a public radio signal increased from 83% in 1989 to 89.1% currently. The unserved population decreased from 192,000 in 1989 to 138,725.
AM Service
None
Service from Adjacent States
The counties of York, Cumberland, Oxford and Franklin near Maine's border with New Hampshire also receive signals from New Hampshire Public Radio.
Unserved Areas
Region A
The entire northwestern section of Maine is forested, mountainous, and sparsely populated. The Appalachian Mountains act as a barrier to radio signals from the stations located along Maine's populated coastline. Northwest Maine is home to numerous state parks and the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River.
Most of the state's unserved population resides in the area extending from the New Hampshire border southeast toward the Atlantic coast. More than 80,000 residents of Oxford, Franklin, Somerset and Piscataquis counties lack public radio coverage. There is no particular area within this region that has any large community.
Region B
This region between the coverage areas of WMEH, WMEN, and WMED includes portions of Penobscot, Aroostook and Washington counties and is sparsely populated. The unserved region north of Bangor in Penobscot county contains approximately 22,000 people. The unserved sections of Aroostook and Washington counties contain a few thousand people.