[BC] Re: WABC on Columbia Island

[Mark Durenberger]

I also have a recorded interview with consultant Oggie Prestholdt, about the 
day the airplane hit the High Island tower...again, if you're interested, 
please contact me off-list.

Have a great day!

Mark Durenberger


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Xen Scott" <xenscott at earthlink.net>
To: "Broadcast Radio Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: [BC] Re: WABC on Columbia Island


> 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:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>                                  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
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Xen Scott
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> This is the BROADCAST mailing list
> To send to the list, email: broadcast at radiolists.net
> For sub changes, archives and info on this other lists: 
> http://www.radiolists.net/
>
>