WCBC (AM)

Infobox Radio station
name = WCBC


city = Cumberland, Maryland
area = Cumberland, Maryland
Frostburg, Maryland
Keyser, West Virginia
branding = "1270 WCBC"
slogan = "The Station You Can Count On"
airdate = 1953
frequency = 1270 kHz
format = Full Service
power = 5,000 Watts daytime
1,000 Watts nighttime
erp =
class = B
callsign_meaning = W Cumberland Broadcasting Corporation
former_callsigns =
owner = Cumberland Broadcasting Corporation
sister_stations = WCBC-FM
webcast = [http://64.72.123.82:9960/ WCBC Webstream]
website = [http://www.wcbcradio.com/ WCBC Online]
affiliations = ABC Radio News
Paul Harvey

WCBC is an AM radio station that serves the greater area of Cumberland, Maryland. Founded in April, 1976, WCBC provides complete news coverage: locally, regionally, and nationally; complete weather forecasts; participation in major community events to promote the area and it’s many organizations by way of remote broadcasts and community service announcements; complete information regarding school and senior center lunch menus, closings and special events.

WCBC’s programming includes network affiliations with ABC Radio Network (Network news, Sean Hannity and Paul Harvey), the Westwood One Radio Network (Jim Bohannon and Bill O'Reilly), Premiere Radio Network (Coast to Coast with George Noory and Art Bell), Talk Radio Network (Laura Ingraham and Michael Savage), ESPN Sports Network, and the Focus on the Family Radio Network.

The station’s sports programming includes coverage of local high school football and basketball, Allegany College of Maryland basketball, and West Virginia University football and basketball, Washington Redskins football, and area little league baseball.

WCBC also has an FM sister station, WCBC-FM at 107.1 in Keyser, West Virginia, repeated via translator in Cumberland on 99.5, playing an oldies format.

Lawsuit against Allegany County schools

On August 28, 2007, Cumberland Broadcasting Corporation, the owners and operators of WCBC-AM/FM, and "the Maryland Delaware DC Broadcasters Association filed a law suit in the United States District Court in Baltimore against each member of the Allegany County Board of Education, and the Superintendent of Allegany County Schools, Bill AuMiller", according to the WCBC-AM website.

The reason for the lawsuit is "that the Board of Education has acted to deny WCBC its First Amendment rights", again quoting the WCBC website.

"Following criticism of the Board’s actions, WCBC was denied access to information provided to other media, denied access to press boxes at county schools, and denied information that would enable it to participate in a Board-endorsed scholarship program." cite web
url = http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8628&Itemid=35
title = WCBC files lawsuit against school board
accessdate = 2007-08-30
last = WCBC
first =
publisher = WCBC
language = English] cite web
url = http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=198&Itemid=571
title = WCBC vs. The Board of Education
accessdate = 2007-08-30
last = WCBC
first =
publisher = WCBC
language = English]

On August 31, 2007, the Allegany County Board of Education offered an olive branch cite web
url = http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=198&Itemid=571
title = School Board, WCBC Resolve Differences
accessdate = 2007-09-06
last = WCBC
first =
publisher = WCBC
language = English] to WCBC and would again allow WCBC access to information, press boxes, etc. as it was prior to August 17, 2007 letter from the BOE which took those services away. cite web
url = http://www.wcbcradio.com/images/stories/BOE-Agreement.pdf
title = WCBC / BOE Agreement - Signed August 31, 2007
accessdate = 2007-09-06
last = WCBC
first =
publisher = WCBC
language = English]

According to a September 15, 2007, AP/WJZ-TV report cite web
url = http://wjz.com/local/local_story_256122805.html
title = Station Will Broadcast Games While Fighting Ban
accessdate = 2007-09-15
last = AP/WJZ
first =
publisher = AP/WJZ
language = English] :

cquote| A Cumberland radio station will be able to broadcast high school football games while it fights a decision by the Allegany County school board denying access to the games.

A federal judge in Baltimore granted the temporary injunction requested by WCBC-AM.

The judge ruled the station's constitutional rights were violated by the ban, and the public would be served by an injunction.

The station claims the board's ban on access to a stadium press box was a result of unflattering news stories about the county schools.

In one story, a reporter was able to walk into five county schools without being questioned.

Allegany High School Attorneys says an agreement last week by the parties to seek mediation fell apart.

So, despite the previous "WCBC/BOE Agreement" signed on August 31, 2007, WCBC's lawsuit against the Allegany County (of Maryland) Board of Education remains in the courts.

References

External links

* [http://www.wcbcradio.com/ WCBC-AM Online]
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