To further the independence of people in Western Pennsylvania who are blind, visually impaired, or unable to read or hold print material, WQED fm89.3 broadcasts the Radio Information Service to the Oakland area on special radio receivers available to eligible subscribers.

RIS provides access to information read by the general public to people who cannot read print information because of vision loss, stroke, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, severe dyslexia, spina bifida, macular degeneration or any disability that inhibits the independence of reading.

Information from daily local and national newspapers, popular magazines, grocery and departments store ads, best-seller books, and publications of special interest to people who have a disability.

WQED fm89.3 is a 24-hour presence that celebrates music and the arts in and around the greater Pittsburgh area, increasing the visibility of Western Pennsylvania artists inside and outside the region, and on and off the radio. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors and professionals working Downtown are reminded of Pittsburgh's vibrant cultural life in its "T" subway stations and the Pittsburgh International Airport. Busy travelers have a calmer commute, courtesy of Classics on the Move, funded by the PPG Industries Foundation. This classical music adorns the city's transportation hubs with performances by local musicians and visiting international artists recorded in Pittsburgh, transporting commuters in more ways than one!