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WLBL (930 kHz) is an AM radio station licensed to Auburndale, Wisconsin, serving Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids. The station is part of Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), and airs "WPR Music", consisting of classical music programming.

WLBL is the second-oldest station in the Wisconsin Public Radio network. It traces its history to WPAH in Waupaca, which was licensed to the Wisconsin Department of Markets, and began broadcasting on February 5, 1923. The Department later moved its operations to Stevens Point and changed the calls to WLBL in May 1924. In 1932, it began sharing programs with Madison's WHA—the ancestor of today's Wisconsin Public Radio network. Owned for many years by the state Commerce Department, it is now owned by the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

WLBL must power down to 70 watts at sunset, resulting in spotty coverage even in Wisconsin Rapids and missing Stevens Point altogether. During the fall, winter, early spring, and late summer, it is allowed to boost its power to 500 watts at 06:00, then go to full power at sunrise.

Notes

1. The station application requested "WLOL", for "Land of Lakes", but the U.S. Department of Commerce, which regulated radio at this time, required that call signs for new stations meet the current standard of being issued sequentially-assigned call letters that had "B" as the third letter, so "WLBL" was substituted and the station slogan modified accordingly.

References

1. "Radio Station is Given New Call W-L-B-L: Concerts May Be Broadcast Every Night". Stevens Point Journal. May 12, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved February 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Facility Technical Data for WLBL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
3. WLBL operating hours

External links

• Wisconsin Public Radio
• Facility details for Facility ID 63138 (WLBL) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WLBL in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
• Facility details for Facility ID 86309 (W256CZ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• W256CZ at FCCdata.org
• Facility details for Facility ID 155297 (W265DC) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• W265DC at FCCdata.org

44°36′48″N 90°02′14″W / 44.61333°N 90.03722°W / 44.61333; -90.03722

• Radio stations in Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Public Radio
• NPR member stations
• Radio stations established in 1923
• 1923 establishments in Wisconsin