Deborah S. Proctor
Turning Passion into a Career
May 2008

It's a rarity to find a person who is able to successfully combine life's passions with the work they do, but Deborah S. Proctor has managed to do just that. As general manager of Wake Forest-based radio station WCPE (89.7 FM), the 56-year-old Proctor has spent the last 30 years pouring her love of classical music and her knowledge of engineering into bringing the station into prominence. Proctor's tireless dedication and advocacy has allowed Triangle residents, as well as listeners across the nation and around the world to tune in and enjoy great classical music when and how they want to.

From the Ground Up
WCPE stems from five college students dreaming of starting a radio station. In 1973, while earning her Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, Proctor and four other North Carolina State University students formed the Educational Information Corporation and applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a two-watt, non-commercial broadcasting license. Five years later, using hand-built and army surplus equipment, WCPE took to the air broadcasting 12,500 watts for four hours a day.

With little experience in radio at the time, Proctor credits the several years she worked in television broadcasting at WRAL-5 and WRDU-28 for setting the stage for her tenure at WCPE. "It was there that I got a handle on the overall 'how to' of broadcasting," Proctor says. "Especially channel 28, because the old 28 was a 'hands on' place-nothing came easy. It was good preparation of learning how to make due with what you have; the usual for public broadcasting."

Proctor has been instrumental in expanding the station's broadcast reach. She secured power increases to 33,000 watts and 100,000 watts in 1982 and 1993 respectively, and has successfully incorporated new technology and media outlets into WCPE's broadcast repertoire. The station can now be heard on every continent through satellite, cable television and FM broadcast affiliates. In 1998, WCPE was one of the first public broadcasters to begin streaming on the Internet. "We've been blessed," says Proctor. "Not only do we have the highest power available for local broadcasting, but we are steadily building a presence on the Internet."

Fighting for Public Radio
WCPE's achievements haven't come easy. Proctor has battled with the FCC and lobbied in front of Congress on numerous occasions in an effort to secure the fair treatment of the station. Along the way, she has not only led the cause to protect the station's broadcasting rights, but has been at the forefront of promoting and protecting the rights of all public radio stations. During the 1990s, Proctor waged a multi-year battle against the FCC's technical discrimination against public radio. "Had we been a commercial broadcaster, WCPE would have been able to increase to full power with no problem," Proctor says. "But, there was a loophole left in from an old technical study back in the 1950s." After submitting numerous formal and informal comments to the FCC, Proctor was successful and, in 1998, the proposed modifications to the streamlining of radio rules were adopted.

During the past decade, Proctor has concentrated her efforts toward urging Congress to fix inconsistencies in the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The Act amended U.S. copyright laws, but failed to differentiate between public and commercial radio. "I was in Washington so often that I just kept a suitcase packed so I could leave on an hour's notice," Proctor says.

She presented testimony to the House Judicial Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. She also worked with former Senator Jesse Helms to get the Small Webcaster Settlement Act passed in 1992. This gave public broadcasters a five-year stay on implementing the undifferentiated royalty structure. "Public radio was fighting a gargantuan increase in payment rates," Proctor explains. "Had public radio supporters across the nation not united and petitioned Congress for help, I don't believe there would be radio over the Internet today."

As the Small Webcaster Settlement Act was set to expire in 2007, Proctor again spoke out in support of the proposed Internet Radio Equality Act (IREA) that would give clarity to the copyright royalty rates for public and commercial radio stations. Despite more that two million phone calls to Congress and 150 Congressmen and Congresswomen in support of the IREA, the issue has yet to be settled.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

WCPE staff members outside the station in Wake Forest, NC

As WCPE approaches its 30th over-the-air birthday this July, Proctor looks back in amazement at how quickly the time has gone. "It has been a long journey; I remember that the transmitter shut down during its first hour of operation because it got too hot," she reminisces. "We built it from scratch; those were the days when we had lots of time but no money-today, where has all of that spare time gone?"

Time constraints aside, Proctor is grateful to have had a major role with WCPE and is most satisfied when she hears of the role the station has played in its listeners' lives. "Deborah has worked so hard for so long that she deserves what she's experiencing right now," says Deana Vassar, host of WCPE's 'Allegro' and 'Preview!' programs. "She is deeply sensing what the station's music means to people, and that feeling has become more valuable to her than any personal gain."

With no plans to slow down, Proctor believes the future is bright for the station. "I want to see WCPE grow and gain new listeners; listeners who can depend on us to be there whenever and wherever they tune in. If someone will share our station with a friend, then over time, we will gain the assurance that we will be here for another 30 years!"