About WFIT 89.5 FM

Mission

WFIT’s mission is to provide quality programming designed to enrich and enhance the cultural and educational environment of East Central Florida.  The station forms a unique liaison between the educational resources of Florida Institute of Technology and the informational needs of its listeners.  

The mission-driven programs of WFIT relate to the Primary Goals of Brevard’s Strategic Cultural Plan in several ways.  WFIT strengthens the arts and cultural sector by providing the community with a continuous connection to the arts and culture through quality radio programming – at work, at home and in the car.  The station also helps strengthen the arts by participating in the community’s signature art events such as The Melbourne Art Festival and the Brevard Cultural Alliance’s Fall for the Arts.

WFIT promotes the value of the arts as integral to enhancing Brevard’s quality of life and its future growth by promoting local art and cultural events.  WFIT’s Music and Arts Calendar, Coastal Connection interviews and Public Service Announcements  such as WFIT’s award-winning collaboration with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra,  “A Music Minute” inform the public of the numerous artistic endeavors thriving in the community.

WFIT is honored to help make the community aware that art is essential to education by promoting Florida Tech’s Humanities Lecture Series and Music Program, the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, and the University’s annual International Festival. Florida Tech President Dr. Anthony Catanese says, “At Florida Tech, we believe that music is intrinsic to higher education…the study of music and playing musical instruments makes for the education of the whole brain as well as the total person.”

WFIT also builds awareness of the arts and encourages participation of all Brevard residents through its concerts and events.  WFIT’s “Jazz at the Panthereum” is a free, handicapped- accessible monthly concert series.  Musicians in the audience are encouraged to participate by joining in the performances.  By partnering with the Brevard Art Museum in events such as Jazz Fridays, WFIT builds community awareness of and participation in the arts.

History

WFIT 89.5 FM is a non-commercial, public radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to the Trustees of the Florida Institute of Technology.  In April of 1975, Florida Institute of Technology began its non-commercial educational radio station as WFIT, a student-run college radio station.  In the late 1980’s, WFIT was regarded as one of the top alternative music college radio stations in the country. 

WFIT was interconnected with the public radio satellite system in 1993, and shortly thereafter became an affiliate of National Public Radio.  In response to changing demographics, WFIT changed its format to jazz and began broadcasting public radio news as well as a variety of other culturally diverse music and educational programs.   

An FCC approved power increase to 8,000 kilowatts in 1998 extended the station’s signal to include more Brevard County listeners, reaching north to Cocoa and Cocoa Beach, and south to Vero Beach in Indian River County.  Automated equipment has enabled the station to broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, maximizing the range of audiences served.  WFIT upgraded its transmitter in 2004 and became the first radio station in Brevard County to broadcast in high definition.

In January of 2006, WFIT changed its daytime programming from smooth jazz to “Triple A” (Adult Album Alternative) radio.  A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, Triple A’s musical selection tends toward the fringe of mainstream pop and rock as well as many other music genres such as indie rock, alternative rock, jazz, electronic, folk, blues, world and roots music. A diverse group of 23 local volunteer show hosts contribute to this mix.  Additionally, WFIT proudly broadcasts two local, venerable classical music shows: Sonny Marble’s Music at Dusk and Bill Carrigan’s Classics for a Sunday Evening.

Since its inception in 1975, WFIT has also sponsored hundreds of concerts and cultural events.  WFIT looks forward to many more decades of growth and service to the community.