It is owned by the Pacifica Foundation, wit studios located on K Street Northwest.
WPFW launched at 8 pm on February 28, 1977,[2] with Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's "Take the 'A' Train".
The station was accused of violating the Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to provide time to opposing opinions, and the conservative American Legal Foundation (ALF) worked to block the station's license renewal in 1981.
After a two-year delay, the Federal Communications Commission rejected the ALF's request and renewed the station's license in 1983.
[7] In 2013, the building the station shared with the Washington City Paper was slated for demolition, necessitating another move.