The Federal Communications Commission has approved an application submitted by WWED 89.5 in Fredericksburg to increase its FM broadcast power from 380 watts to 16,000 watts.

The station, known as “Bluegrass FM”, simulcasts with its sister station WWEM 91.7 in Lynchburg, VA. The two stations provide all bluegrass music non-commercially 24 hours a day, seven days a week to thousands of listeners daily across Virginia.

Bluegrass FM will need to replace its current transmitter, antenna and antenna line before the power increase can take effect. The project will cost an estimated $100,000 and will need to be raised in the form of donations from listeners and corporate sponsors. Once the project funds are received, equipment can be ordered and installed.

Once the upgrade is complete, the station’s coverage will be significantly increased toward Richmond, Charlottesville and Culpeper and provide a denser and more listenable signal into portions of Northern Virginia south of Washington, D.C.

Completion of the power increase is anticipated in mid-2009.

For more information visit www.BluegrassFm.org