WBLQ-LP

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WBLQ-LP
City of license Ashaway, Rhode Island
Broadcast area Southern Rhode Island, Southeastern Connecticut
Slogan "Local News, Local People"
Frequency 96.7 MHz
First air date December 8, 1997
Format Variety
ERP 100 watts
HAAT 1.25 meters (4 feet)
Class L1
Facility ID 124671
Transmitter Coordinates 41°24′43″N, 71°44′59″W
Former callsigns WCTD-LP[1]
Owner Washington County Chamber of Commerce
Webcast Listen Live
Website http://www.wblq.net/

WBLQ-LP (96.7 FM) is a radio station licensed to the community of Ashaway, Rhode Island. It serves the greater Westerly, Rhode Island, region as well as part of southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut.[2] The station is owned by Washington County Chamber of Commerce, headed by Vito DiPaola. The station is managed by Chris DiPaola.[3] It airs a Variety format.

The station has been assigned the WBLQ-LP call letters by the Federal Communications Commission since December 6, 2005.[1] The WBLQ callsign had most recently been assigned to the current WKIV in neighboring Westerly, Rhode Island.[4]

Contents

[edit] History

On February 7, 2004, this low-power FM station first signed on as WCTD-LP at 96.9 FM. The station aired an "all-disco all-the-time" music format. Branded as "96.9 The Party", the station's slogan was "You're always invited to our party." At sign-on, the station could be heard in parts of southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. When it signed on, this station was the only 24-hour disco station in the Northeastern United States.[2]

In December 2005, WCTD-LP changed call letters to WBLQ-LP after sister station WBLQ switched to WKIV as part of its three-year LMA arrangement with the "K-Love" station group.[5]

In March 2006, the station was granted a change in frequency from 96.9 MHz to 96.7 MHz to reduce interference caused by the then-recent move of then-WHBE (now WEHN in East Hampton, New York, from 96.7 MHz to 96.9 MHz.[6]

[edit] Move to 1230 AM

In May 2007, Rhode Island Public Broadcasting reached an agreement to sell WXNI (1230 AM, Westerly, RI) to Chris DiPaola's Diponti Communications for a reported $350,000.[7] The AM station will also switch to the WBLQ callsign. In December 2007, Diponti Communications filed for transfer of the WXNI license. Owner Chris DiPaola told NorthEast Radio Watch that once the transfer is complete that the programming currently airing on WBLQ-LP will move to the more powerful AM signal and the LPFM will flip to modern rock as "The Buzz."[8] Chris DiPaola is also an officer and director of Southern Rhode Island Public Radio Broadcasting, which owns WKIV, also in Westerly.[3]

[edit] Controversy

In December 2007, the board of the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce denied renewal of the station's membership in that organization.[9] Station president Chris DiPaola cited WBLQ-LP's support of the Chamber's community events such as Santa’s arrival, duck races, and Riverglow in defense of his application. DiPaola has asked the Westerly Town Council to require the Chamber to follow open meetings rules and release its minutes.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Call Sign History. FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. ^ a b Needham, Cynthia. "Westerly, R.I., Radio Station Will Try to Fill the All-Disco Vacuum.", Providence Journal, 2004-01-20. 
  3. ^ a b Taylor, Tom. "This Rhode Island non-commercial AM finds a local non-com buyer", Radio Info, 200-12-20. 
  4. ^ Fybush, Scott. "WCRB's Fate Becomes Clearer", NorthEast Radio Watch, 2005-12-19. 
  5. ^ Fybush, Scott. "December 19, 2005 - WCRB's Fate Becomes Clearer", NorthEast Radio Watch, 2005-12-19. 
  6. ^ Fybush, Scott. "April 3, 2006 - WKHL Drops Oldies for "Coast" AC", NorthEast Radio Watch, 2006-04-03. 
  7. ^ Fybush, Scott. "May 28, 2007 - Expensive "Free FM" Experiment Ends", NorthEast Radio Watch, 2007-05-28. 
  8. ^ Fybush, Scott. "December 24, 2007 - WAMC Backs Down in Noncomm Fight", NorthEast Radio Watch, 2007-12-24. 
  9. ^ Naylor, Donita. "Ouster puzzles station president", Providence Journal, 2007-12-04. 

[edit] External links