A local FM radio station is preparing to come back on the air following a lengthy break.
WERA 96.7 has been seeking to resume broadcasting today (Tuesday) after going dark in July 2025. A new licensee, Radio Arlington, took the reins from now-defunct Arlington Independent Media and has been resolving some final logistics and technical issues to meet an imminent deadline.
“As a completely new nonprofit organization, our focus is on doing the groundwork to build a 100% volunteer-run community radio station,” Radio Arlington Co-Director Becky Meiers told ARLnow.
Radio Arlington secured the broadcasting license for WERA following the collapse of Arlington Independent Media, which produced local radio programming for years but switched to a continuous loop of lo-fi beats in late 2023.
The new nonprofit, which has a website with a link to a newsletter and donation options, has proposed broadcasting debates, independent news, music and “cultural programming featuring independent and grassroots voices.” However, Meiers said the team is still solidifying specifics.
“Keep in mind that our schedule is in a little flux as we bring local hosts back and resolve our cabling issue,” she said. “I hope that we can open an application drive for new programs in early 2027. I can’t make promises about the lo-fi beats, but if you did hear them, it’d be in the context of a show — not on all the time.”
Radio Arlington received special temporary authority from the Federal Communications Commission on July 22 to resume broadcasting with a temporary antenna as a workaround for a technical problem. However, the authorization notice said that the station’s license “will automatically expire as a matter of law” if transmissions don’t resume by 11:59 p.m. today.
As of late last week, Radio Arlington was still working with the county to restore access to broadcast equipment at 2300 Clarendon Blvd.
A contractor contacted county staff earlier this month seeking permission to drill a hole in a wall on behalf of Radio Arlington, but the request was missing “basic information,” the county said in a statement.
“The County has never heard directly from Radio Arlington,” county spokesperson Erika Moore told ARLnow on Friday. “With continued missing necessary information, and only one week’s notice before Radio Arlington is required to start broadcasting, the County is working to determine appropriate next steps as quickly as is reasonable for all involved.”
Meiers said that Radio Arlington has control over its equipment, but is still trying to get it operational.
“We are working with our landlord to perform a minor alteration that will allow a cabling passthrough from the roof to our equipment. Arlington County’s role is to honor the lawful easement this involves,” she said.
Radio Arlington’s website indicates plans to operate continuously. Its stated mission is “to empower and inspire our listening communities, building a local space for quality creative expression and credible local information sharing.”
“While life in Arlington is grounded by many excellent news and information sources, there is not a single FM broadcaster in the area that focuses on Arlington specifically,” the nonprofit wrote. “We intend on bridging that gap.”
