[BC] Re: WABC on Columbia Island

[Xen Scott]

At 07:05 AM 12/14/05 -0500, Dan Strassberg wrote:

>This was of course the OLD WABC 860/880, now WCBS, which did indeed operate
>from Columbia Island (originally Pea Island) in Long Island Sound, not far
>from the current High Island site of WFAN and WCBS. I don't know the years
>during which WABC/WCBS used Columbia Island, but I'm quite sure that use of
>the site either predated or coincided with NARBA (3/31/41) and extended into
>the '60s. I know that Scott Fybush can furnish at least the later date.

Here's what the FCC microfiche files show for WCBS:
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                                  WCBS

  9/20/24  First licensed as WABC.  The original licensee was the
           Atlantic Broadcasting Corporation.  The original
           transmitter location was 70-72 Van Wyck Blvd., Queens, NY.
           The original studio location was 113 W. 57th. St.

  3/26/25  WBOQ issued license for shared frequency with WABC.

  4/23/27  WABC-WBOQ issued a temporary permit for 1270kc, 500 watts.

  4/25/27  Applied for C.P. for 950kc, 5kw.

   6/1/27  Granted 920kc, 2.5kw, shared with WBOQ, for the period
           6/1/27 to 7/31/27.  There were extensions.

11/16/27  Granted 970kc, 2.5kw, shared with WBOQ.

  8/10/28  Granted 970kc, 5kw, unlimited time.

  11/8/28  Granted 860kc, 5kw, unlimited time.  Transmitter moved to
           west of Cross Bay Blvd., Long Is., NY.

11/11/28  WABC-WBOQ combined into one facility.

  8/10/29  Studio location change to 525 Madison Ave., NYC, later
           redefined as 485 Madison Ave., NYC.

  9/30/29  Applied to increase power to 50kw.  Granted 10/2/29.

  7/29/30  Authorized synchronization tests with WHK for the period
           7/31/30 to 10/31/30.  There were extensions.

  9/26/30  Granted C.P. to move transmitter site to Vincent St.,
           1/2 mile from Wayne, NJ.

  3/15/32  Granted authorization for transmission tests on 800kc and
           860kc with 50kw. between the hours of 2am and 4:30am,
           3/17/32 to 4/17/32.

   7/8/32  Granted 860kc, 50kw, unlimited time, for the period
           8/1/32 to 2/1/33.

  11/5/36  Vol. assignment of license to Columbia Broadcasting System,
           Inc.  Granted 12/1/36.

  6/30/38  Application for authorization to rebroadcast over WABC, the
           two-way conversations between the control tower attendant
           of American Airlines and three of American Airlines' planes
           identified as NC16015, NC16011 and NC16012, coming into
           Newark Airport, 10pm to 10:30pm, 6/30/38, as part of one of
           the Americans at Work programs.

  6/15/40  Call letters changed from WABC-WBOQ to WABC.

   7/2/40  Granted C.P. for new transmitter and change of transmitter
           location to Little Pea Island, New Rochelle, NY.
           There were extensions.

  3/17/41  Application for modification of C.P. to specify NARBA
           frequency of 880kc.

10/15/41  Application for C.P. to operate old WABC transmitter
           (Western Electric Type D-94995 Serial No. 101) as the
           second auxiliary transmitter during the period of program
           tests, 10/18/41 to 11/16/41.  There were extensions.

12/11/41  License granted to cover C.P. for 880kc, 50kw unlimited.

  8/29/46  Call letters changed to WCBS.

  6/30/59  Granted authorization to operate on a non-commercial basis
           during experimental hours as a developmental station for
           tests of a compatible stereophonic system using the call
           letters KF2XAB for the period ending 9/30/59.

  7/15/60  Granted C.P. to move transmitter site to 700 King Ave.,
           High Island, N.Y., NY, make changes in antenna and ground
           system, install new transmitter (GE BT-50-A1), and change
           studio location to 49 E. 52nd. St. N.Y., NY.

  2/14/64  Granted license to cover C. P.

  8/27/65  Studio location changed to 51 W. 52nd. St. NYC.

  8/30/65  Application for C.P. to change antenna from top loaded
           and sectionalized to top loaded only.
           License granted 2/25/66.

  4/22/74  Name of licensee changed to CBS, Inc.

           END OF FILE
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Xen Scott