WCAZ (Carthage, Illinois)

WCAZ (990 AM, "Talk 990") was formerly a commercial radio station, whose operating license was cancelled by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on April 21, 2017. First licensed in May 1922, WCAZ had been one of the oldest radio stations in the United States. At the time of its deletion the station was licensed to the Ralla Broadcasting Company in Carthage, Illinois, and featured a Talk/Personality format.

DWCAZ
CityCarthage, Illinois
BrandingTalk 990
Frequency990 kHz
First air dateMay 15, 1922[1]
(initial licensing date)
Last air dateApril 21, 2017
(date of license cancellation)
FormatDefunct, was Talk/Personality
Power1,000 watts day
9 watts night
ClassD
Facility ID7634
Transmitter coordinates40°24′30.00″N 91°10′15.00″W
Call sign meaningNone (sequentially assigned)
AffiliationsUSA Radio Network
OwnerRalla Broadcasting Co.
WebsiteOfficial website

Following the license cancellation, in the opinion of the FCC the station effectively began operating as a pirate radio station, when it continued regular broadcasts, still identifying itself as "WCAZ", despite FCC orders to cease. The station finally ended operations shortly after noon CST on December 31, 2017.[2]

History

WCAZ was first licensed on May 15, 1922 to Robert E. Compton and the Quincy Whig-General newspaper in Quincy, Illinois.[3] In December 1922 the station became jointly owned by Compton and Carthage College, and the station was moved to the college's campus in Carthage, Illinois. The college assumed sole ownership in September 1923, and continued to operate the station until February 21, 1930. At this time WCAZ was sold back to Robert Compton and his associates, doing business as the Superior Broadcasting Company.[4]

On January 31, 2007, the FCC fined WCAZ $3,500 for failing to file a timely license renewal application.[5] However, the station failed to pay, and on April 21, 2017, the Ralla Broadcasting Company's Robin R. Dunham was sent a certified letter by the FCC, informing him that because WCAZ had not made any arrangements to pay the fine, "all authority to operate station WCAZ(AM), Carthage, Illinois, IS TERMINATED" and the station's license and call letters had been cancelled and deleted.[6]

Contrary to the FCC order, the station continued to make regular broadcasts as "WCAZ", thus technically becoming an unlicensed pirate radio station. On June 28, 2017, in response to a complaint that the station had failed to end operations, an agent from the FCC's Chicago Enforcement Bureau determined that Dunham was continuing to operate a 975-watt transmitter on 990 kHz, and informed the FCC that he had "refused to cease operating the AM station". On December 8, the FCC sent a follow-up letter to Dunham ordering that the "unlicensed operation of this radio station must be discontinued immediately", and warning him of potential legal consequences if he did not comply. A local TV station report on the situation quoted Dunham as claiming he had contacted the FCC and was operating legally, although he planned to cease operations at 5 p.m. on December 31, 2017.[7]

The station actually ended programming shortly after noon CST on December 31, 2017. Following the broadcast of a local church service and a series of community messages, the station went silent without fanfare, closing with the simple statement "From all of us to all of you, thank you."[2]

References
  1. "WCAZ FCC history cards" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  2. "WCAZ Live Stream", December 31, 2017 (www.wcazam990.com/wcaz-live-stream/)
  3. "New Stations: Commercial Land Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, June 1, 1922, page 4.
  4. "Carthage College" section, Education's Own Stations by S. E. Frost, Jr., 1937, pages 51-52.
  5. "FCC Says Carthage Radio Station Operating Without License", Herald-Whig, December 23, 2017 (whig.com).
  6. Re: WCAZ(AM), Carthage, IL", Official FCC correspondence: Certified letter, dated April 21, 2017, sent to Robin R. Dunham by James D. Bradshaw, Deputy Chief, Audio Division, Media Bureau.
  7. "Carthage Radio Station Ordered to Stop Operations" (wgem.com)
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