A Rhode Island public radio station is changing its name now that it has expanded into southeastern Massachusetts.
Rhode Island Public Radio will be known as The Public's Radio starting Friday. Its new website, thepublicsradio.org, launches 12:01 a.m. Friday.
The station previously bought the rights to a University of Massachusetts Dartmouth frequency and moved a transmitter to Tiverton.
Station CEO Torey Malatia says Federal Communications Commission regulations require the station to serve the area under its signal, which prompted the name change.
Malatia says the station will open a bureau in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and they will launch an online initiative where listeners can suggest topics they want covered.
He says the station will continue programming from National Public Radio, the BBC and American Public Media.
