TWiRT Ep. 807 - Today's FM Radio Technology with William Harrison

TWiRT Ep. 807 - Today's FM Radio Technology with William Harrison

July 3, 2026 · 1h 10m

About this episode

The episode features a conversation with William Harrison about contemporary FM radio technology and engineering practices.

This Week in Radio Tech, Episode 807, features William Harrison, Chief Engineer for WETA-FM in Washington, D.C. William got his start in public radio in the 1990s at WAMU-FM, where computer work quickly expanded into audio and electronics. Since then, he’s worked with PBS, NPR, The Metropolitan Washington Ear, and a number of FM and TV broadcasters. He also chairs SBE Chapter 37 in D.C., serves on the Virginia SECC, sits on the board of the Association of Public Radio Engineers, and occasionally writes for Radio World. In this episode, we talk about real-world FM engineering, including Capital Concerts fireworks show coordination, HD Radio timing and “ballgame” mode, receiver metadata behavior, liquid-cooled transmitters, HLS streaming for broadcast STL use, and dynamic range control in xHE-AAC. Join us for a practical, wide-ranging conversation about broadcast engineering, public radio operations, and the listener experience on This Week in Radio Tech.

People in this episode

Guest: William Harrison

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: WETA-FM, WAMU-FM, PBS, NPR, The Metropolitan Washington Ear, SBE Chapter 37, Virginia SECC, Association of Public Radio Engineers, Radio World

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