Despite its seeming connection to composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, WCPE's call letters don't stand for anything in particular; the station simply did not have the money to petition the FCC for a specific set of call letters, but was happy with the result. WCPE operates three full-power satellite stations in the Outer Banks of eastern North Carolina, as well as a network of low-powered translators across the state. It can also be heard on cable television systems, on free-to-air "small dish" home satellite systems via the AMC-1 satellites, and around the world via six streaming audio formats on the Internet, including mp3, Ogg Vorbis, QuickTime, RealAudio, iTunes, and WMA. The station also streams via IPv6. Listening options and instructions are at . It also distributes its classical music format to affiliate stations in ten states as a service entitled Great Classical Music. It is made available to these stations via the communications methods listed above. Distribution rights and rebroadcast consent to cable systems, broadcast stations, private systems - any legal communications entity - is free without cost or obligation. The is available on the WCPE website. As of December, 2007 WCPE has lost access to its C-Band transponder. WCPE was one of the first public radio station in the nation to broadcast its programming on the Internet and one of the few radio stations in the United States to broadcast a dedicated, non-commercial classical music format. WCPE is 100% run by voluntary donations; the greatest amount by far is from individuals making personal gifts, and in recent years an increasing number of small business owners are helping through their companies. The station does not receive any government financial subsidies and/or entitlements at all. Several government-owned groups do help the station when it benefits both. For instance, WCPE gives details of a city-owned orchestra's upcoming concert; the orchestra can then help WCPE with funds from increased ticket sales. At first WCPE chose a sparsely populated, heavily wooded area in the Northeast part of Wake County, North Carolina. During the intervening years, the town of Wake Forest has grown around their studio and transmitter site. The grounds once housed a dilapidated farmhouse. WCPE cleared pine trees on the property for the building of the station's facilities and tower. The full amount of land is needed to accommodate the guy wires for the transmitting tower.
Helms-Leahy Small Webcaster Settlement Act of 2002
In November, 2002 WCPE and its founder and General Manager, Deborah Proctor was recognized by Senator Jesse Helms for her contribution in the Helms-Leahy Small Webcaster Settlement Act of 2002. This act helped settle a dispute regarding the amount of royalties webcasters must pay in order to perform sound recordings over the Internet bringing stability to the then emerging webcasting industry.
On Saturday, November 6, 2019 founder and General Manager, Deborah Proctor was recognized by Governor Roy Cooper with North Carolina's highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award. Proctor was recognized for her efforts to promote and help small, independent and public broadcasters remain viable in the era of online broadcasting.
Simulcasts and translators
WZPE is owned by the Educational Information Corporation, while WURI is owned by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and leased to WCPE. In 2016, WCPE's programming in Buxton moved from high-power WBUX to W216BE. Both facilities are owned by WUNC, which WBUX now retransmits.
Affiliates
Portions of WCPE's programming can also be heard on these stations: Kansas
