WLTR first signed on the air on July 1, 1976. Over time, additional non-commercial FM stations were added to the network around the state, operated jointly with South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV). These FM stations largely simulcast programming from originating on flagship station WLTR, featuring a mix of NPR news and information on weekday mornings and afternoons, with classical music predominantly played during middays, nights and weekends. By the end of the 1990s, many non-commercial NPR stations nationwide began phasing out music programming from their schedules and focusing on news, talk and information formats.
In 2001, the South Carolina Educational Radio Network stations split its statewide network. Stations WRJA-FM in Sumter, WJWJ-FM in Beaufort and WHMC-FM in Conway started broadcasting all NPR and local news and information programming. WLTR maintained its format, continuing to feature news and information in mornings and afternoons, with some classical music and other musical programs, middays, nights and weekends. 89.3 WSCICharleston and 90.1 WEPRGreenville continue to simulcast WLTR.