WBLQ-LP

Infobox Radio station
name = WBLQ-LP


city = Ashaway, Rhode Island
area = Southern Rhode Island, Southeastern Connecticut
branding =
slogan = "Local News, Local People"
airdate = December 8, 1997
frequency = 96.7 MHz
format = Variety
erp = 100 watts
haat = 1.25 meters (4 feet)
class = L1
facility_id = 124671
coordinates = coord|41|24|43|N|71|44|59|W
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = WCTD-LP
owner = Washington County Chamber of Commerce
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast = [http://deadby28.net/wblq/listen.html Listen Live]
website = http://www.wblq.net/
affiliations =

WBLQ-LP (96.7 FM) is a radio station licensed to the community of Ashaway, Rhode Island. It serves the greater Westerly, Rhode Island, region as well as part of southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. The station is owned by Washington County Chamber of Commerce, headed by Vito DiPaola. The station is managed by Chris DiPaola. It airs a Variety format.

The station has been assigned the WBLQ-LP call letters by the Federal Communications Commission since December 6, 2005.cite web |title=Call Sign History |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=124671&Callsign=WBLQ-LP] The WBLQ callsign had most recently been assigned to the current WKIV in neighboring Westerly, Rhode Island.cite news |first=Scott |last=Fybush |title=WCRB's Fate Becomes Clearer |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2005/051219/nerw.html |date=2005-12-19]

History

On February 7, 2004, this low-power FM station first signed on as WCTD-LP at 96.9 FM. The station aired an "all-disco all-the-time" music format. Branded as "96.9 The Party", the station's slogan was "You're always invited to our party." At sign-on, the station could be heard in parts of southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. When it signed on, this station was the only 24-hour disco station in the Northeastern United States.cite news |first=Cynthia |last=Needham |work=Providence Journal |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-17186119_ITM |title=Westerly, R.I., Radio Station Will Try to Fill the All-Disco Vacuum. |date=2004-01-20]

In December 2005, WCTD-LP changed call letters to WBLQ-LP after sister station WBLQ switched to WKIV as part of its three-year LMA arrangement with the "K-Love" station group.cite news |first=Scott |last=Fybush |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2005/051219/nerw.html |title=December 19, 2005 - WCRB's Fate Becomes Clearer |date=2005-12-19]

In March 2006, the station was granted a change in frequency from 96.9 MHz to 96.7 MHz to reduce interference caused by the then-recent move of then-WHBE (now WEHN in East Hampton, New York, from 96.7 MHz to 96.9 MHz.cite news |first=Scott |last=Fybush |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2006/060403/nerw.html |title=April 3, 2006 - WKHL Drops Oldies for "Coast" AC |date=2006-04-03]

Move to 1230 AM

In May 2007, Rhode Island Public Broadcasting reached an agreement to sell WXNI (1230 AM, Westerly, RI) to Chris DiPaola's Diponti Communications for a reported $350,000.cite news |first=Scott |last=Fybush |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2007/070528/nerw.html |title=May 28, 2007 - Expensive "Free FM" Experiment Ends |date=2007-05-28] The AM station will also switch to the WBLQ callsign. In December 2007, Diponti Communications filed for transfer of the WXNI license. Owner Chris DiPaola told "NorthEast Radio Watch" that once the transfer is complete that the programming currently airing on WBLQ-LP will move to the more powerful AM signal and the LPFM will flip to modern rock as "The Buzz."cite news |first=Scott |last=Fybush |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2007/071224/nerw.html |title=December 24, 2007 - WAMC Backs Down in Noncomm Fight |date=2007-12-24] Chris DiPaola is also an officer and director of Southern Rhode Island Public Radio Broadcasting, which owns WKIV, also in Westerly.cite news |first=Tom |last=Taylor |work=Radio Info |url=http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/pdf/TRI12202007.pdf |title=This Rhode Island non-commercial AM finds a local non-com buyer |date=200-12-20]

Controversy

In December 2007, the board of the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce denied renewal of the station's membership in that organization.cite news |first=Donita |last=Naylor |work=Providence Journal |title=Ouster puzzles station president |date=2007-12-04 |url=http://www.projo.com/ri/newshoreham/content/SC_WEST_WBLQ_12-04-07_LL84CQ0_v9.2b4cb24.html] Station president Chris DiPaola cited WBLQ-LP's support of the Chamber's community events such as Santa’s arrival, duck races, and Riverglow in defense of his application. DiPaola has asked the Westerly Town Council to require the Chamber to follow open meetings rules and release its minutes.

References

External links

* [http://www.wblq.net/ WBLQ-LP official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/wblq WBLQ-LP MySpace page]
*WBLQ-LP image gallery - cite web |url=http://gallery.bostonradio.org/2004-05/ri3/index.html |work=BostonRadio.org |title=Rhode Island towers, part III
*FMQ|WBLQ
*LPL|WBLQ