List of AM-band radio station lists issued by the United States government is a review of the official AM-band station lists prepared by U.S. regulators.
In the United States, radio station regulation has been the responsibility of the following agencies:
In the list below, under the Listed by heading, "Zone" refers to the five regional zones established by the provisions of the Davis Amendment, which was in force from 1928 to 1936. Under the Source heading, "RSB" refers to the Radio Service Bulletin, published until June 1932 by the Department of Commerce, from July 1932 until July 1934 by the Federal Radio Commission, and thereafter by the Federal Communications Commission. The annual issues of Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the United States were all published by the Department of Commerce.
Date | Listed by | Source | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
3/10/1922 | Owner | RSB #59 (3/1/1922), pages 13–14 | First cumulative list issued after the adoption of the 12/1/1921 regulations that formally established a "broadcast service" category [1] |
3/31/1922 | Owner | RSB #60 (4/1/1922), pages 24–26 | Also 4/1/1922-4/15/1922 supplement |
4/30/1922 | Call letters | RSB #61 (5/1/1922), pages 19–22 | Also 5/1/1922-5/12/1922 supplement |
5/31/1922 | Call letters | RSB #62 (6/1/1922), pages 19–24 | Also 6/1/1922-6/15/1922 supplement |
6/30/1922 | City | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1922), pages 70–72 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1922), pages 73–78 | ||
3/1/1923 | Call letters | RSB #72 (4/2/1923), pages 14–22 | Services: E)ntertaiment (360 or 400 meters); M)arket & W)eather (485 meters) [2] |
6/30/1923 | City | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1923), pages 68–71 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1923), pages 72–81 | ||
1/31/1924 | Call letters | RSB #82 (2/1/1924), pages 12–20 | |
2/29/1924 | Call letters | RSB #83 (3/1/1924), pages 12–21 | |
6/30/1924 | City | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1924), pages 68–71 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1924), pages 72–80 | ||
1/31/1925 | Call letters | RSB #94 (2/2/1925), pages 11–21 | |
2/28/1925 | Frequency | RSB #95 (3/2/1925), pages 9–13 | |
5/31/1925 | State/city | RSB #98 (6/1/1925), pages 13–16 | |
6/30/1925 | State/city | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1925), pages 55–57 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1925), pages 58–68 | ||
1/30/1926 | State/city | RSB #106 (1/30/1926), pages 8–10 | |
Call letters | RSB #106 (1/30/1926), pages 11–20 | ||
6/30/1926 | State/city | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1926), pages 61–63 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1926), pages 64–73 | ||
12/31/1926 | Call letters | RSB #117 (12/31/1926), pages 9–21 | A breakdown in regulation means listed frequencies and powers might be incorrect |
5/3/1927 | Call letters | RSB #121 (4/30/1927), pages 6–14 | Temporary permits issued after the formation of the Federal Radio Commission |
6/15/1927 | State/city | RSB #122 (5/31/1927), pages 5–10 | |
Frequency | RSB #122 (5/31/1927), pages 10–15 | ||
6/30/1927 | State/city | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1927), pages 66–71 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1927), pages 72–86 | ||
Frequency | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1927), pages 87–92 | ||
7/1/1927 | Call letters | Annual Report of the FRC (6/30/1927), pages 55–64 | |
11/1/1927 | Frequency | Jurisdiction of Radio Commission (2/1928), pages 14–17 | Frequencies from 600 to 1000 kHz |
12/1/1927 | Frequency | Jurisdiction of Radio Commission (2/1928), pages 10–12 | Frequencies from 600 to 1000 kHz that are cleared of interference |
Frequency | Jurisdiction of Radio Commission (2/1928), pages 13–14 | Frequencies from 600 to 1000 kHz that are uncleared of interference | |
1/31/1928 | Call letters | RSB #130 (1/31/1928), pages 15–29 | |
2/29/1928 | State/city | RSB #131 (2/29/1928), pages 12–18 | |
6/30/1928 | State/city | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1928), pages 76–81 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1928), pages 82–96 | ||
Frequency | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1928), pages 97–102 | ||
9/1/1928 | State/city | Second Annual Report of the FRC (6/30/1928), pages 171-191 | Includes provisional assignments for 11/11/1928 |
11/11/1928 | State/city | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1928), pages 162-166 | Major reallocation made under the provisions of the FRC's General Order 40 [3] |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1928), pages 167-171 | ||
Frequency | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1928), pages 172-176 | ||
Frequency | Second Annual Report of the FRC (6/30/1928), pages 200-214 | Includes owner, power and timesharing information | |
1/10/1929 | Call letters | H. R. 15430 Hearings, pages 12–31 | |
2/28/1929 | State/city | RSB #143 (2/28/1929), pages 14–24 | |
6/30/1929 | State/city | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1929), pages 104-109 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1929), pages 110-121 | ||
Frequency | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1929), pages 122-127 | ||
11/9/1929 | Call letters | Third Annual Report of the FRC (11/1/1929), pages 101-120 | |
6/30/1930 | State/city | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1930), pages 164-169 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1930), pages 170-183 | ||
Frequency | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1930), pages 184-189 | ||
2/2/1931 | Call letters | Broadcasting Stations of the U.S. (FRC), pages 1–29 | |
State/city | Broadcasting Stations of the U.S. (FRC), pages 30–61 | ||
Frequency | Broadcasting Stations of the U.S. (FRC), pages 62–100 | ||
6/30/1931 | State/city | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1931), pages 186-191 | |
Call letters | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1931), pages 192-207 | ||
Frequency | Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S. (6/30/1931), pages 208-213 | ||
1/1/1932 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations in the U.S. (FRC), pages 1–29 | Includes Davis Amendment assigned "quota units" |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations in the U.S. (FRC), pages 31–47 | ||
Zone/state | Radio Broadcast Stations in the U.S. (FRC), pages 49–71 | Includes Davis Amendment assigned "quota units" | |
12/1/1933 | Call letters | Preliminary Report on Communications Companies: Appendix J | Includes Davis Amendment assigned "quota units" |
Zone/state | Preliminary Report on Communications Companies: Appendix J | Includes Davis Amendment assigned "quota units" | |
1/1/1934 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations in the U.S. (FRC), pages 1–29 | Includes Davis Amendment assigned "quota units" |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations in the U.S. (FRC), pages 31–47 | ||
Zone/state | Radio Broadcast Stations in the U.S. (FRC), pages 49–70 | Includes Davis Amendment assigned "quota units" | |
1/1/1935 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | Includes daytime and nighttime Davis Amendment assigned "quota units" |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
Zone/state | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
1/1/1936 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
Zone/state | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | Includes daytime and nighttime Davis Amendment assigned "quota units" | |
1/1/1937 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
State/city | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
1/1/1938 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | Linked site is missing the last two pages |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
State/city | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
1/1/1939 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
State/city | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
1/1/1940 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | Linked site is missing pages 96–97 |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
State/city | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
9/10/1940 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
State/city | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
1/1/1941 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
State/city | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
3/29/1941 | Call letters | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | Major reassignment resulting from the implementation of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) |
Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
State/city | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | ||
Frequency | "United States Assignments" | Arrangement between the United States of America, Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Mexico, comprising recommendations of the North American Regional Radio-Engineering Meeting (supplemental to North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement [NARBA], Habana, 1937) | |
1/1/1946 | Frequency | Radio Broadcast Stations (FCC) | |
11/15/1950 | Frequency | "Annex 3: Initial Broadcast Station List" | 1950 North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement [NARBA] |
12/31/1975 | Frequency | Official list of notified assignments of standard broadcast stations of the U.S. (FCC) |
The Federal Radio Commission (FRC) was a government agency that regulated United States radio communication from its creation in 1927 until 1934, when it was succeeded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FRC was established by the Radio Act of 1927, which replaced the Radio Act of 1912 after the earlier law was found to lack sufficient oversight provisions, especially for regulating broadcasting stations. In addition to increased regulatory powers, the FRC introduced the standard that, in order to receive a license, a radio station had to be shown to be "in the public interest, convenience, or necessity".
WTVN – branded as "News Radio 610 WTVN" – is a commercial news/talk radio station licensed to Columbus, Ohio. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station serves the Columbus metro area. The WTVN studios area located in the McKinley Avenue Corridor northwest of Downtown Columbus, and its transmitter site is near Obetz. In addition to a standard analog transmission, the station simulcasts over the HD digital subchannel of co-owned 93.3 WODC, and streams online via iHeartRadio. WTVN began broadcasting in HD Radio in June 2005, but the in-band on-channel subcarrier was discontinued by 2015.
The Radio Act of 1927 was signed into law on February 23, 1927. It replaced the Radio Act of 1912, increasing the federal government's regulatory powers over radio communication, with oversight vested in a newly created body, the Federal Radio Commission. It also was the first legislation to mandate that stations had to show they were "in the public interest, convenience, or necessity" in order to receive a license. The Act was later replaced by the Communications Act of 1934.
WWL is an AM radio station in New Orleans, Louisiana, owned by Audacy, Inc. WWL and 105.3 WWL-FM simulcast a news/talk format with sports talk at night. The studios are in the 400 Poydras Tower in the New Orleans Central Business District.
KXLY is a commercial AM radio station in Spokane, Washington. It broadcasts a news/talk radio format with the branding "920 News Now". The station is owned by QueenB Radio, with its license held by Morgan Murphy Media, and its studios and offices are on West Boone Avenue in Spokane.
KGNC is an AM radio broadcast station in Amarillo, Texas, United States with a news/talk format. The station is owned by Alpha Media LLC. Studios for KGNC and its partners are located in southwest Amarillo near the former Western Plaza shopping center. KGNC's programming is also broadcast on 97.5 FM by translator K248DE in Amarillo.
WHJJ is a commercial radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. It carries a talk radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Its studios and offices are on Oxford Street in Providence.
The Federal Radio Commission's (FRC) General Order 40, dated August 30, 1928, described the standards for a sweeping reorganization of radio broadcasting in the United States. This order grouped the AM radio band transmitting frequencies into three main categories, which became known as Clear Channel, Regional, and Local. It also included provisions for coordination with Canadian station assignments. The majority of the reassignments resulting from the plan's implementation went into effect on November 11, 1928.
WHAZ is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Troy, New York, and serving New York's Capital District. The station is locally owned by the Capital Media Corporation and broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. National religious leaders heard on WHAZ include Jim Daly, Charles Stanley, Joyce Meyer, Chuck Swindoll and David Jeremiah.
KNIT is an AM radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah. It serves the Wasatch Front area of Utah. The station is one of the oldest in Salt Lake City, established in 1922 as KDYL. KNIT's transmitter site is on Pitchfork Lane in Murray, Utah, near Interstate 215. It broadcasts at 730 watts, using a single tower non-directional antenna. The station shares this tower with KJJC.
KMJ is a commercial AM radio station in Fresno, California. It airs a news/talk radio format, and simulcasts with sister station KMJ-FM. Owned by Cumulus Media, the studios and offices are located at the Radio City building on Shaw Avenue in North Fresno.
WCAO is a commercial radio station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts an urban gospel radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It also airs some Christian talk and teaching programs. The studios and offices are located at The Rotunda shopping center in Baltimore.
WIMG is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel music format. Licensed to Ewing, New Jersey, the station is currently owned by Morris Broadcasting Company of New Jersey, Inc.
KRKO is a commercial radio station licensed to Everett, Washington. The station broadcasts a classic hits radio format to the Seattle metropolitan area. The station was established in 1922, and is currently owned by S-R Broadcasting Co., Inc., a locally-based company.
KWSU is a non-commercial AM radio station licensed to Pullman, Washington. It is owned by Washington State University, and is the flagship station of Northwest Public Broadcasting's National Public Radio News network. It airs a news and talk radio format, using programming from NPR, American Public Media and Public Radio International, as well as locally produced offerings. It airs periodic fundraisers and seeks donations on its website.
WLAP is a commercial AM radio station in Lexington, Kentucky, serving the Central Kentucky region. It airs a news/talk format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Nicolasville Road in Lexington.
The Davis Amendment was a provision attached to the March 28, 1928 reauthorization of the Radio Act of 1927, which mandated an "equality of radio broadcasting service" within the United States. It specified an "equitable allocation" among five regional zones, in addition to assignments proportional to population among the states within each zone. Its implementation resulted in the development of a complicated quota system by the Federal Radio Commission, and although its provisions were carried over to the Federal Communications Commission by the Communications Act of 1934, it ultimately proved impractical, and was repealed on June 5, 1936.
Portable broadcasting stations in the United States was a category of AM band radio stations, which were not restricted to operation in a specific community, but instead were permitted to be transported for broadcasting from various locations. These authorizations began in the early 1920s during a period when radio regulation in the United States was the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. However, after the newly formed Federal Radio Commission (FRC) took over in early 1927, it was decided that allowing stations to make unrestricted relocations was impractical, and in 1928 the FRC announced that existing portables that had not settled into permanent locations would be deleted. Station owner C. L. Carrell attempted to overturn the new policy, but was unsuccessful.
WJAZ was the call sign used from 1922 to 1931 by a series of four separate, but closely related, broadcasting stations located in Chicago, Illinois and operated by the Chicago Radio Laboratory/Zenith Radio Corporations.
The Federal Radio Commission's (FRC) General Order 32, dated May 25, 1928, notified 164 of the over 600 existing U.S. radio stations that their applications for continued operation would be denied unless they showed that they met the FRC's "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard. The result was the elimination of more than 60 stations, plus numerous power reductions, that somewhat reduced the congestion of the broadcast band, in preparation for implementation of the General Order 40 reallocation later that year.