WSTL (1220 AM, "La Mega 94.9") is a radio station licensed to serve Providence, Rhode Island. The station broadcasts a Spanish tropical format programmed by Radio Sharon Foundation. Its programming is also heard on translator stations in Providence, W229AN (93.7 FM) and W235CN (94.9 FM).

WSTL
Broadcast areaProvidence metropolitan area
Frequency1220 kHz
BrandingLa Mega 94.9
Programming
FormatSpanish tropical
Ownership
Owner
  • Nelson Diaz
  • (Diaz Holdings, LLC)
OperatorRadio Sharon Foundation
History
First air date
1947
Former call signs
WRIB (1947–2006)[1]
Call sign meaning
We Shine The Light
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID9183
ClassD
Power
  • 1,000 watts (day)
  • 166 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
41°49′15.36″N 71°23′5.2″W / 41.8209333°N 71.384778°W / 41.8209333; -71.384778
Translator(s)
  • 93.7 W229AN (Providence)
  • 94.9 W235CN (Providence))
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.lamega949fm.com

Known as WRIB from 1947 to July 7, 2006, the station changed its call sign to WSTL on July 7, 2006.[1]

History

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The station was started in 1947 as a 250-watt daytimer, WRIB with studios at the old Narragansett Hotel.[3] In 1952, WRIB increased its daytime power to the current 1 kilowatt.

For many years, WRIB had aired mostly brokered programming, serving as an outlet for primarily ethnic broadcasters. Faith Christian Center, an evangelical megachurch in nearby Seekonk, Massachusetts, bought WRIB in 2005. While the station's time brokers had expected to be forced to find new homes for their programming, Faith Christian took WRIB off the air at 12:30 on July 7, 2006, with no advance warning, angering many of WRIB's former time brokers. The church only gave the time brokers a few hours to get their equipment out of the studios or face charges for trespassing.[4][5] Some shows continue on other stations (e.g.: the Armenian Radio Hour is now on WARA) but others disappeared.

On the morning of Friday, June 23, 2017, the station reported to be going off the air soon; it then went silent.[6][7][8][9] On November 29, 2017, WSTL returned to the air with Spanish tropical, branded as "Mega 94.9" (simulcast on FM translator W235CN 94.9 FM Providence).[10]

Translators

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Broadcast translators for WSTL
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W229AN 93.7 FM Providence, Rhode Island 156667 250 (V)
0 (H)
D 41°49′15.4″N 71°23′5.2″W / 41.820944°N 71.384778°W / 41.820944; -71.384778 (W229AN) LMS
W235CN 94.9 FM Providence, Rhode Island 41191 250 D 41°49′40″N 71°22′7″W / 41.82778°N 71.36861°W / 41.82778; -71.36861 (W235CN) LMS

References

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  1. ^ a b "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WSTL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ Boston Radio essays. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  4. ^ "Providence Journal story from September 9, 2006". Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  5. ^ All Access.com; July 11, 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  6. ^ WSTL Radio Ministry's Facebook Page
  7. ^ radio-locator.com
  8. ^ Remain silent authority request from the FCC's CDBS, filed June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  9. ^ W229AN's request for silent authority, filed June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  10. ^ Mega 94.9 Launches in Providence Radioinsight - November 29, 2017
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