WFIT State Grant to Boost Programming, Provide Reading Service

MELBOURNE, FLA. — A grant earned by Florida Tech’s WFIT 89.5-FM, a National Public Radio station, will mean a new service for the visually impaired. WFIT won
the $111,000 public broadcasting grant from the Florida Department of Education. 

 “The grant will help fulfill our mission of educating our listening audience in East Central Florida,” said Terri Wright, WFIT station manager. “Some
of the funding will go toward an on-air radio reading service for the visually impaired.”

 The proposed service will operate on a sub-channel of the station’s primary signal, not interfering with WFIT’s current broadcast schedule. The
service will broadcast 24 hours a day, daily, and offer a variety of programs featuring print media read aloud. Readings will be of books, periodicals and
newspapers by both professional and local volunteers.

 WFIT is soliciting donations to acquire digital radio receivers that will be provided to visually impaired citizens in WFIT’s listening area at no
charge. The receivers will be maintained by WFIT at no cost to recipients.

 Additionally, WFIT will invest in improving community service programming by increasing local news and entertainment.

 Florida Tech administers the public broadcasting radio service, WFIT 89.5-FM, located in Melbourne and serving the surrounding communities.