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Calhoun County will likely have its' own commercial FM radio station, following an FCC auction yesterday of a frequency assigned to the Arnoldsburg area.
The 6,000 watt station, according to sources close to the project, will likely go on-the-air this year, with the broadcasting tower to be erected somewhere in the Arnoldsburg, Sand Ridge or Mt. Zion area.
The music format for the station will be announced later, with the broadcaster intending to deliver local programming, likely news and sports.
The frequency allocation was part of the last 160 FM channels available in the USA, two of which were in West Virginia, Arnoldsburg and Burnsville.
The FCC has yet to post the name of the new owner.
Last year, Summit Media Communications, which operates "Boss Radio", and operates two stations in Sutton, had expressed interest in the Arnoldsburg frequency, provided the minimum bid was reduced.
Summit asked the FCC to reduce the starting bid to a minimum of $2,500, the agency having earlier established a minimum of about $50,000. Summit claimed the rural area is economically depressed with few businesses.
Star Communications, which owns WVRC Radio AM-FM in Spencer has protested the sale of the frequency, claiming it would damage their market and commercial viability.
The FCC ruled against the Spencer company, saying they (FCC) are not in the business of deciding financial conflict.
However, individuals associated with Star reportedly bid on the frequency this past week.
In the early 1960s, Woodyard Publishing of Spencer, explored the possibility of building a commercial AM station in Grantsville, but the project never got off the ground.
WSPZ, which became WVRC, once broadcast from an office on Main Street in Grantsville, for a brief period of time.
Since then, WVRC has provided news and sports coverage for the county.
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