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WVBF

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For the radio station that used these call letters during 1971–1993, see WROR-FM.
WVBF
Broadcast areaMiddleborough–Taunton
Frequency1530 kHz
BrandingAM 1530 WVBF
Programming
FormatNews/talk, radio reading service
AffiliationsUSA Radio News
Massachusetts Reading Network
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
March 31, 1992[1][2]
Former call signs
WCEG (1992–1997)
Call sign meaning
Virginia B. Fairbanks, wife of owner of unrelated WVBF (now WROR-FM)[3]
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID63403
ClassD
Power5,000 watts day
4 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
41°52′56″N 71°3′50″W / 41.88222°N 71.06389°W / 41.88222; -71.06389
Translator(s)99.7 W259DD (Middleborough Center)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.hometowntalkradio.com

WVBF (1530 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Middleborough Center, Massachusetts, United States, the station serves the Middleborough/Taunton area. The station is currently owned by Massachusetts state senator Marc R. Pacheco through his MRP Communications and Consulting, LLC.[5] WVBF carries the Massachusetts Reading Network when not airing local programming. USA Radio News plays at the top of the hour during locally produced programs.

History

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The station went on the air as WCEG on March 31, 1992.[1][2] [dead link] Original owner Steven J. Callahan sold the station to Metro South Broadcasting, owner of WMSX in Brockton, on January 7, 1993.[6] The new owners dropped WCEG's music programming in favor of a simulcast of WMSX; separate programming was subsequently introduced in Portuguese.[7] However, the station had been silent for several years by 1996, when Callahan reached a deal to repurchase the station.[8][9] Soon after reassuming control on January 5, 1997,[8] Callahan brought WCEG back on the air with radio reading service programming;[7] the call letters were changed to WVBF on March 21, 1997.[10] The WVBF call sign had previously been used by 105.7 FM in Framingham from 1971 until 1993, while broadcasting top 40 and adult contemporary formats; that station is now WROR-FM.

From the station's inception, WCEG/WVBF only broadcast during daytime hours with 1,000 watts;[1] however, 2-watt nighttime service was inaugurated in 2002.[11] In 2006, the station's daytime power was increased to 2,200 watts.[12][13] On August 7, 2007, WVBF began to air several local talk shows from studios in Taunton; these shows moved from WPEP (1570 AM), which was in the process of closing down to accommodate a power increase at WNSH in Beverly. The radio reading service programming continues when talk programming does not air.[14]

Translator

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WVBF is relayed on translator station W259DD, which transmits on 99.7 MHz. It received its license to cover on April 10, 2019.[15]

Broadcast translator for WVBF
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W259DD 99.7 FM Middleborough Center, Massachusetts 200670 20 0 m (0 ft) D 41°52′55″N 71°3′51″W / 41.88194°N 71.06417°W / 41.88194; -71.06417 LMS

References

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  1. ^ a b c Bickelhaupt, Susan (May 15, 1992). "The little AM station that thinks it can". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "WCEG reception verification" (PDF). April 1, 1992. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  3. ^ "Call Letter Origins". Radio History on the Web.
  4. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WVBF". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ "WVBF Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  6. ^ "Application Search Details (1)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Fybush, Scott (January 26, 1997). "Back From the Dead..." North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Application Search Details (2)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  9. ^ Fybush, Scott (November 19, 1996). "MusicAmerica Returns". New England RadioWatch. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  10. ^ "WVBF Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  11. ^ Fybush, Scott (May 13, 2002). "North East RadioWatch". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  12. ^ "APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST STATION". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. February 2, 2004. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  13. ^ "Application Search Details (3)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  14. ^ Winokoor, Charles (August 6, 2007). "Local talk radio gets 2nd wind". Taunton Daily Gazette. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  15. ^ F.C.C. information for facility 200670; retrieved June 20, 2019.
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