Because 880 AM is a United States clear channel frequency reserved for 50,000 watt Class A station WHSQ in New York City, WPEK must sign-off at night to avoid interference.

[3] In 1988, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a construction permit for a new radio station in Fairview, North Carolina, on 880 AM, but it took nine years to build it.

Later, WPEK had its own schedule of syndicated progressive talk hosts, including Bill Press, Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz,[6] Thom Hartmann and Norman Goldman.

In 2010, WPEK dropped Thom Hartmann, who moved to WPVM-LP, added to a schedule that included weekday hosts Lesley Groetsch and Blake Butler, whose "Local Edge Radio" included "politics, arts and entertainment, live music and local listener call-ins".

[8] The progressive talk format ultimately ended in late 2018, when W266CP and WKSF-HD3 switched to alternative rock.