WCMA (AM)
Encyclopedia
WCMA was a radio station
licensed to serve the community of Daleville, Alabama
, USA. The station, established in 1982 as WRDJ, is currently owned by Perihelion Global, Inc. The FCC deleted the license of WCMA on January 6, 2011, as the station had previously been silent since mid-July of 2009.
for the final time, the station was broadcasting a religious radio format that included a mix of praise, worship, and Southern Gospel
music. Identifying itself as the "World Cultural Ministry Alliance", the station was managed by T.O.P.S.—The Ordinary People Society—under a local marketing agreement
. T.O.P.S. is a not for profit, faith-based organization that bill itself as offering hope without regard to race, sex, creed, color or social status; to individuals and their families who suffer the effects of homelessness, unemployment, hunger, drug addiction, incarceration and illness, through comprehensive faith-based programs that provide a continuum of unconditional acceptance and care.
from the Federal Communications Commission
on May 25, 1982
, for a new AM station in Samson, Alabama
, broadcasting at 1490 kHz. The new station was assigned the call letters WRDJ by the FCC on July 12, 1982. WRDJ received its license to cover
from the FCC on August 25, 1982.
On October 19, 1983, the station was granted a construction permit
to change community of license to Daleville, Alabama
, change frequency to 1350 kHz, and reduce operating hours to daytime only. WRDJ received a license to cover
these changes on November 30, 1983.
WRDJ received a new construction permit on September 10, 1986, to increase signal power to 5,000 watt
s. The station was granted a license to cover this change on June 13, 1989.
In March 1987, station owner Carol Stanley contracted to sell this station to WRDJ Christian Radio Cornerstone Ministries, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 14, 1987, but the transaction was never consummated and the Carol Stanley retained the broadcast license
. Carol Stanley reached a new agreement in March 1988 to sell WRDJ, this time to Ed Carroll, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 10, 1988, and the transaction was consummated on May 14, 1988.
In May 1991, Ed Carroll, Inc., agreed to sell this station to Ashley N. Davis, Jr. The deal was approved by the FCC on June 25, 1991, and the transaction was consummated on August 16, 1991. This change would prove short-lived as Ashley N. Davis, Jr., reached an agreement in March 1992 to sell this station to News/Talk 1560, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on June 9, 1992, and the transaction was consummated on August 1, 1992. As part of the sale agreement, the station applied for new call letters and was assigned WTKN on March 2, 1992.
In December 2003, Joseph A. Adams, Jr., contracted to sell this station to John H. Beebe. The deal was approved by the FCC on March 16, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on April 21, 2004.
Upon contracting to purchase the station from Joseph A. Adams, Jr., John H. Beebe undertook extensive engineering studies and tests to increase the station's broadcast power and reach. Beebe sought out and hired the former head of Clear Channel's AM Engineering Department to perform the studies, measurements and tests required by the FCC for any broadcast power increase. The result of the extensive collaborative engineering work was a ten-fold increase in the station's broadcast power from 5,000 watts to the FCC maximum 50,000 watts. On April 27, 2004, the FCC granted WTKN a construction permit to change frequencies to 1560 kHz, increase daytime power to 50,000 watt
s non-directional, and critical hours operational power to 2,500 watts (non-directional). The station was assigned the current WCMA call letters by the FCC on February 15, 2005.
An STA to take the station silent was filed with the FCC in July of 2009, and was granted. In January of 2011, the FCC rejected the request to continue the silent STA, and deleted WCMA's license on January 6, 2011, according to the FCC database.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to serve the community of Daleville, Alabama
Daleville, Alabama
Daleville is a city in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 4,653. It is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city's nickname is "Gateway to Fort Rucker", as this U.S. Army post is located just north of town...
, USA. The station, established in 1982 as WRDJ, is currently owned by Perihelion Global, Inc. The FCC deleted the license of WCMA on January 6, 2011, as the station had previously been silent since mid-July of 2009.
Programming
Before failing silentDark (broadcasting)
In the broadcasting industry, dark is a term used to describe a radio station or television station that has gone off-the-air for an indefinite period of time, or as defined by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission , a "silent" station...
for the final time, the station was broadcasting a religious radio format that included a mix of praise, worship, and Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
music. Identifying itself as the "World Cultural Ministry Alliance", the station was managed by T.O.P.S.—The Ordinary People Society—under a local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
. T.O.P.S. is a not for profit, faith-based organization that bill itself as offering hope without regard to race, sex, creed, color or social status; to individuals and their families who suffer the effects of homelessness, unemployment, hunger, drug addiction, incarceration and illness, through comprehensive faith-based programs that provide a continuum of unconditional acceptance and care.
The beginning
This station received its original construction permitConstruction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
from the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on May 25, 1982
1982 in radio
The year 1982 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*23 July - KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh, becomes the first AM station to broadcast in Stereo sound....
, for a new AM station in Samson, Alabama
Samson, Alabama
Samson is a city in Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 2,071.-Geography:Samson is located at .According to the U.S...
, broadcasting at 1490 kHz. The new station was assigned the call letters WRDJ by the FCC on July 12, 1982. WRDJ received its license to cover
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
from the FCC on August 25, 1982.
On October 19, 1983, the station was granted a construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
to change community of license to Daleville, Alabama
Daleville, Alabama
Daleville is a city in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 4,653. It is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city's nickname is "Gateway to Fort Rucker", as this U.S. Army post is located just north of town...
, change frequency to 1350 kHz, and reduce operating hours to daytime only. WRDJ received a license to cover
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
these changes on November 30, 1983.
WRDJ received a new construction permit on September 10, 1986, to increase signal power to 5,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s. The station was granted a license to cover this change on June 13, 1989.
In March 1987, station owner Carol Stanley contracted to sell this station to WRDJ Christian Radio Cornerstone Ministries, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 14, 1987, but the transaction was never consummated and the Carol Stanley retained the broadcast license
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
. Carol Stanley reached a new agreement in March 1988 to sell WRDJ, this time to Ed Carroll, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 10, 1988, and the transaction was consummated on May 14, 1988.
In May 1991, Ed Carroll, Inc., agreed to sell this station to Ashley N. Davis, Jr. The deal was approved by the FCC on June 25, 1991, and the transaction was consummated on August 16, 1991. This change would prove short-lived as Ashley N. Davis, Jr., reached an agreement in March 1992 to sell this station to News/Talk 1560, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on June 9, 1992, and the transaction was consummated on August 1, 1992. As part of the sale agreement, the station applied for new call letters and was assigned WTKN on March 2, 1992.
The WTKN years
In December 1997, News/Talk 1560, Inc., agreed to sell WTKN to Joseph A. Adams, Jr. The deal was approved by the FCC on February 12, 1998, and the transaction was consummated on the same day.In December 2003, Joseph A. Adams, Jr., contracted to sell this station to John H. Beebe. The deal was approved by the FCC on March 16, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on April 21, 2004.
Upon contracting to purchase the station from Joseph A. Adams, Jr., John H. Beebe undertook extensive engineering studies and tests to increase the station's broadcast power and reach. Beebe sought out and hired the former head of Clear Channel's AM Engineering Department to perform the studies, measurements and tests required by the FCC for any broadcast power increase. The result of the extensive collaborative engineering work was a ten-fold increase in the station's broadcast power from 5,000 watts to the FCC maximum 50,000 watts. On April 27, 2004, the FCC granted WTKN a construction permit to change frequencies to 1560 kHz, increase daytime power to 50,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s non-directional, and critical hours operational power to 2,500 watts (non-directional). The station was assigned the current WCMA call letters by the FCC on February 15, 2005.
WCMA today
In November 2006, John H. Beebe's Beebe Communications, LLC, reached an agreement to sell WCMA to Perihelion Global, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on December 29, 2006, and the transaction was consummated on February 8, 2007, for restricted stock. Although the subject of much speculation by bloggers, the restricted stock was not sold and was later exchanged for a promissory note that was not paid, resulting in a complete financial loss for Beebe.An STA to take the station silent was filed with the FCC in July of 2009, and was granted. In January of 2011, the FCC rejected the request to continue the silent STA, and deleted WCMA's license on January 6, 2011, according to the FCC database.
External links
- WCMA official website
- T.O.P.S.
- http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=48759 FCC database showing license deletion
- WCMA transmitter site visit - November 2007
- WCMA transmitter site visit - February 2008