The university’s student radio station WMUC 88.1 FM could be forced off its brodadcast frequency by Baltimore’s carrier station of National Public Radio WYPR 88.1 FM, according to the station’s officials.

Officials at WMUC 88.1 FM said they were blindsided by claims yesterday from WYPR Program Director Andy Bienstock, who told The (Baltimore) Sun the station had “gotten permission from the Federal Communications Commission to push aside” WMUC.

WMUC adviser Steve Gnadt said the mention of the station being overrun by WYPR was a surprise to all members involved.

“We don’t know if it’s wishful thinking on their part or what,” said Gnadt, who is also associate director of the Stamp Student Union. “We’re going to take the next couple of days to look into it and see what’s going on.”

Neither Bienstock nor members of WYPR returned calls to The Diamondback as of press time, but WMUC General Manager Jackie Russell said she spoke with WYPR President Anthony Brandon, who told Russell they were within their legal rights to extend their broadcast range into the Washington metropolitan area, which would include WMUC’s broadcast range.

Russell said WMUC’s license is for a low-power student station, a type of license the FCC discontinued about 20 years ago. Because WMUC obtained its license before the FCC made changes, the station was grandfathered into eligibility.

WYPR claims because the FCC does not offer 10-watt student licenses anymore, WMUC is no longer under FCC protection, Russell said.

FCC officials did not return several messages left by The Diamondback, but according to the FCC website the WMUC license belongs to the university.

Gnadt said WYPR approached WMUC about three years ago and expressed interest in purchasing the rights to the frequency, but the WMUC executive board rejected the offer. WYPR even offered to help find an alternative signal, but Gnadt said shifting frequencies would be difficult.

“The D.C. metro area is so tight with stations, it would be futile to move when there are no stations available,” Gnadt said. “We’ve been at 88.1 since the beginning of the station and nobody wanted to move.”

WYPR’s claims of taking over the station’s airwaves started a chain reaction of concern not only among current WMUC officials and employees but WMUC alumni as well.

“I don’t think [WYPR] understands the depth and breadth of this program,” journalism professor and WMUC executive board member Sue Kopen Katcef said. “Do they have a legal leg to stand on? I can’t say. But I can tell you that they’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest here.”

Kopen Katcef said she received dozens of emails from concerned alumni, including CBS Sports reporter Bonnie Bernstein, Monday Night Football correspondant Pam Ward and Comcast Sports Net reporter Chick Hernandez.

“This is striking a huge chord with everyone who’s ever been involved with the station,” Kopen Katcef said. “I don’t think they realize who they’re dealing with.”

The station is one of the country’s oldest college radio stations, first airing in 1937. Its 10-watt signal has a radius of about 10 miles, reaching listeners in Washington, Silver Spring and Bethesda.

Contact reporter Sam Hedenberg at hedenbergdbk@gmail.com.