| WXHQ-LP | |
| City: | Newport, Rhode Island |
| Country: | US |
| Area: | Newport and Providence, Rhode Island |
| Branding: | Radio Newport |
| Airdate: | December 2001 |
| Frequency: | 105.9 MHz |
| Format: | Jazz |
| Erp: | 50 watts |
| Haat: | 42.3m (138.8feet) |
| Class: | L1 |
| Facility Id: | 123581 |
| Licensing Authority: | FCC |
| Callsign Meaning: | "X marks the spot for high quality programming" |
| Owner: | Newport Music Arts Association |
WXHQ-LP (105.9 FM, "Radio Newport") is a non-commercial radio station licensed to the community of Newport, Rhode Island. The station serves Newport and the greater Providence, Rhode Island, area.[1] The station is owned and operated by the Newport Music Arts Association, a non-profit organization. It airs a jazz and freeform format that, according to the station's website, includes "jazz, blues, r&b, bossa nova, Afro-Cuban, lounge, soul, funk, reggae, ska, electronic, downtempo, acid-jazz, surf, world, country, folk, and even occasionally some rock".[2] [3] The music played is almost exclusively instrumental and the station has a policy against playing songs featuring English language vocals.
The station has been assigned the WXHQ-LP call letters by the Federal Communications Commission since May 31, 2001.[4] This is the first FCC-licensed low-power FM station in the state of Rhode Island.[5] WXHQ-LP is also the first public radio station licensed to Newport.[6]
The WXHQ-LP studios are located on in a small office on Marlborough Street.[7] The station's transmitter is located atop the Hotel Viking on Bellvue Avenue in downtown Newport.[8] This transmitter site includes a rooftop container garden used to promote sustainable agriculture and green living by collecting rainwater and growing food.[9]
Other community involvement activities of WXHQ-LP include providing music programming for the annual Newport Island Moving Co. dance festival,[10] broadcasting the Newport Jazz Festival,[11] and serving as a contributing sponsor each year for the Newport International Film Festival.[12]
On October 29, 2007, the FCC issued a $250 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for WXHQ-LP to licensee Newport Music Arts Association.[13] The fine was levied because the station failed to file a timely license renewal application and did not provide an explanation for the late filing. The standard fine of $3,000 was reduced because the licensee did file a renewal application before the actual expiration of the broadcast license.