In 1977, WFSS began broadcasting at 10 watts, and was operated by students using the station to prepare them for broadcasting careers. Its coverage area was limited to a two-mile radius of campus. In February 1983, power was increased to 100,000 watts, and the station joined NPR. From the beginning the station played jazz but went on to offer a wide variety of programming including blues, reggae and rhythm and blues. Joseph Ross, who came from Monrovia, Liberia, was the station manager from 1977 until the 1980s and again starting in 1995. In March 1993, in order to switch from 89.1 to 91.9 and reduce interference to WECT, WFSS signed off for five days and then came back at 30,000 watts before finally going back to 100,000 watts. On January 20, 2000, a winter storm caused significant damage to broadcasting equipment, and WFSS came back days later at 60 watts. The return to full power happened May 5 after $45,000 in repairs. Funding reductions since 2009 caused the station to lose money, and it soon became apparent that it was no longer viable as a standalone NPR member. On May 13, 2015, Fayetteville State trustees voted to sell WFSS to UNC Chapel Hill for $1.35 million. Though the sale still required Federal Communications Commission approval, WFSS began simulcasting WUNC at 10 a.m. the same day. WUNC's licensee, WUNC Public Radio, LLC, took over WFSS' operations under a local management agreement until the sale closed, during which two WFSS employees were required to stay on site. The sale was consummated on November 24, 2015. WFSS-FM Inaugural Administration and Staff University Chancellor Dr. Charles Lyons, Department Head English and Communications: Dr. Elaine Newsome, Director of Communications Center Mr. Joseph Ross, Chief Engineer Mr. Robert Collins, Communications Center Secretary Annie Hasan, Station Advisor Mrs. Elizabeth Czech, WFSS-FM Inaugural Student Staff Station Manager Louis F. McIntyre, Program Director Donna Reavis, Engineer George I. Addison, III, Traffic and Continuity Denise Townsend, Production Director Jeff Capel, Music Director Stacey Burrs, Though their names are not mentioned, many other students and university faculty and staff contributed to the establishment of the station by working as DJ's and support staff.
