WPCA (AM)

WPCA (800 AM) is a radio station broadcasting an Active Rock format as "100.7 the Foundry". Licensed to Waupaca, Wisconsin, United States, the station serves the Wausau-Stevens Point area. The station is owned by Donald Grassmand and Keith Bratel, through licensee Tower Road Media.[1]

WPCA
CityWaupaca, Wisconsin
Broadcast areaWausau-Stevens Point area
Frequency800 kHz
Branding100.7 The Foundry
SloganHot Rockin' The Foundry
Programming
FormatActive rock
Ownership
OwnerDonald Grassman and Keith Bratel
(Tower Road Media, Inc.)
Sister stationsWDUX-FM
History
First air dateApril 29, 1956 (as WDUX)
Former call signsWDUX (1956–2020)
Call sign meaningWauPaCA
Technical information
Facility ID36245
ClassB
Power5,000 watts day
500 watts night
Transmitter coordinates44°21′15.00″N 89°3′29.00″W
Repeater(s)100.7 FM W264DS (Waupaca)

History
Joint logo for WDUX and WDUX-FM, used until 2020

The station began broadcasting on April 29, 1956 under founding owner Dorothy Laird. Mrs. Laird was part of the Laird family, whose presence in broadcasting included patriarch Ben Laird owning Green Bay's WDUZ-AM & FM as well as stations in Upper Michigan and South Dakota.[2] The station, at 800 kHz, started with a daytime operation of 500 watts, then later 1 kW. Around 1964, daytime power was increased to 5 kW, with a pre-sunrise power of 500 watts. Post-sunset authority was granted in 1987.

For many years, WDUX simulcast the contemporary music format of sister station WDUX-FM (92.7). At some point, "AM 800" would split from the simulcast and converted to a classic country format, at times either digitally-automated or carrying Dial Global's "Classic Hit Country" format.

In February 2020, Ben and Dorothy Laird's son, Bill Laird, would retire from broadcasting and sell WDUX and WDUX-FM to Tower Road Media, whose principal owners have stakes in other stations in Northeast Wisconsin and Iron Mountain, Michigan.[2] By that May, when WDUX-FM would change formats from adult contemporary to classic hits, WDUX would temporarily leave the air to update its broadcast facilities.[3] On July 13 at 4:20 p.m., the station returned to the air with a new call sign (WPCA), a new FM repeater signal (W264DS, at 100.7 MHz), and a new active rock music format branded as "100.7 The Foundry," a nod to the Waupaca Foundry.[4]

References
  1. "WPCA Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. "WDUX Sold as Laird Family Exits Broadcasting, from Northpine.com, 2/27/2020
  3. "Waupaca Station Switches to Classic Hits After Sale," from Northpine.com, 5/20/2020
  4. "New 'Hot Rockin' FM Station On The Air In Waupaca," from Northpine.com, 7/13/2020


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