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Timeline of KGA

From the FCC microfiche files, August 26, 1994. Transcribed by Xen Scott

  • 2/4/27 Date first licensed. The licensee was Northwest Radio Service Co., Spokane, WA.
  • 4/23/27 Granted a T.P. for 880kc with 5kw.
  • 6/1/27 Granted a license for 1150kc with 2kw.
  • 11/11/28 Reallocated to 1470kc with 5kw.
  • 10/2/29 Invol. assign. of lic. to Ralph A. Horr, receiver of Northwest Radio Service Co.
  • 12/2/29 Vol. assign. of lic. to Northwest Broadcasting System, Inc.
  • 6/21/32 Granted Direct Crystal Control.
  • 8/25/33 Vol. assign. of lic. to Louis Wasmer.
  • 6/1/34 Granted auth. to operate on 900kc, 1kw, 2.5kw LS, experimentally, pending decision regarding KSEI appeal.
  • 4/8/35 Experimental auth. terminated. Operation continued on 1470kc with 5kw.
  • 3/24/41 Under NARBA, they were granted 1510kc with 5kw.
  • 6/24/41 Granted a C.P. for 1510kc, 10kw DA-N.
  • 1/23/42 Granted Special Auth. to operate with 5kw Non-Directional pending completion of construction.
  • 2/20/42 Granted auth. to operate at 4102 Regal St., Spokane, with 10kw-D, 5kw-N, DA-1, using temporary phasing equip. for the period 2/20/42 to 3/21/42, with cond.
  • 7/14/42 Granted a lic. to cover the C.P. for 1510kc, 10kw DA-N.
  • 3/21/44 Vol. assign. of lic. to John C. Kendall, Archibald W. Witherspoon & Eustace LeMaster jointly and/or several, Attorney-in-fact for a period not to exceed six month after cessation of hostilities or licensee's separation from armed service.
  • 6/20/47 Granted a C.P. for 50kw DA-N. License to cover the C.P., as modified, granted 8/30/48.
  • 8/24/49 Vol. assign. of lic. to The Corp. of Gonzaga Univ., Spokane WA.
  • 5/27/53 Vol. assign. of lic. to Bankers Life and Casualty Co.
  • 12/18/57 Vol. assign. of lic. to Gran Broadcasting Co.
  • 9/27/61 Vol. transfer of cont. of lic. corp. to Bankers Life and Casualty Co.
  • 1/12/68 Vol. assign. of lic. to Liddie Broadcasting Corp.
  • 10/21/70 Vol. transfer of cont. of lic. corp. to Monroe Broadcasting Co.
  • 9/18/80 By telegram from Commission, message sent saying "Understand you operated in non-directional mode during nighttime hours on 9/11/80, to continue service, due to failure in directional array. Temp. auth. granted [to] continue nighttime non-directional operation, but with power reduced as much as possible, to facilitate repairs. Understand repairs can be accomplished in a few days at most. Subsequent auth. granted if necessary to operate [with] parameters at variance while maintaining monitor points within lic. limits. Notify when normal and give details of repairs Understand written request forthcoming. This auth. expires 9/19/80."
  • 3/4/81 Vol. assign. of lic. to Community Spokane Broadcasting Corp.

END OF FILE ---------------------------------------------------

KGA Links

LINKS TO INDIVIDUAL
STATION HISTORIES

  • Emil Olson's station - Said to be the first station in Spokane to broadcast music
  • KFZ - Licensed by Doerr-Mitchell Company - The first licensed commercial broadcast station in Spokane
  • KOE - Licensed by the Spokane Chronicle Newspaper
  • KFDC/KFPY/KXLY - Humble beginnings to major market force
  • KHQ - 1922 to present
  • KFIO/KLYK/KSPO etc - Claims to be the oldest operating station in Spokane
  • KGA - Started in 1927
  • KREM - Started broadcasting in the late 1940's in Downtown Spokane. Become part of Dorothy Bullitt's King Broadcasting.
  • KNEW/KJRB - became Spokane's number one top 40 station in the 1960's.
  • KVNI - The Voice of North Idaho
  • KZUN Opportunity - "The Voice of Spokane Valley" from 1955 to 1985.
  • KCFA and KMBI - now owned and operated by the Moody Bible Institute.
  • KUDY etc
  • KPEG/KEZE/KCKO - Started out as an all-female station with the all announcers named Peg. Made a splash as a country station in the 1960's.
  • KLFF Mead - The short history of "Clef Radio"
  • KDNC/KXXR/KSVY - Started out on the Moran Prairie and ended up in the Spokane Valley.
  • KTWD - Spokane's first commercial FM only station and first FM Stereo station. Established in 1966 by Terry Denbrook.
  • KPBX - Started in George Cole's basement in the early 1970's. Now a major public radio station.

COMING SOON

  • Which station is the oldest station in Spokane? - Look here for the interesting answer

OTHER NEAT LINKS

  • Spokane Radio News Keep abreast of the current radio scene in Spokane.
  • Radio History on the Web Start here for your journey into the fascinating world of radio history. Radio historian Barry Mishkind is the webmaster.