Had a bit of a freakout over radio station.

[riverdeep]

I'm driving in the car around 6p Chicago time, so I decide to tune in to the progressive radio station to see what's up. I've been doing that more lately since the station moved from 850 to 820 am and I don't have to make out the words between static anymore. It comes in pretty clear most days.

There's this guy talking about socialism, how democrats really are for socialism but they won't come out and say it. Then he talks about communism, as if they are interchangeable, and how Hugo Chavez is doing no favors for the poor because he is creating inefficiency that comes from communism. And on and on. I'm thinking, 'has this radio station already 'flipped' to right wing?' Which seriously pissed me off, because for years Chicago has only had right wing crapola coming from the talk powerhouse WLS (World's Lousiest Station, is the local moniker). 50,000 watts and comes in practically everywhere. And now, if our little crumb of a station got yanked...

Well, fortunately, it didn't. Turns out, it only broadcasts during the day by a nice little antiquated law.

The rules regarding radio stations go back to 1934 when there were far fewer radio stations in the country than there are today. "Daytimers" share signals with the very first, 50,000 watt, clear channel stations (not to be confused with the company, Clear Channel) that went on air in the 1920s. WCPT, for instance, is on the same frequency as WBAP in Dallas Texas. We both broadcast at 820-AM. For a long time, the FCC “protected” stations like WBAP, prohibiting anyone from broadcasting on the same signal during any time of the day - no matter how geographically distant they were.

Even though there are almost 10,000 radio stations in the United States today, the FCC still adheres to the 1934 guidelines when there were less than 750. All of the clear channel stations are owned by big corporations... enough said.

http://www.wcpt820.com/about/

So apparently, I was listening to some arrogant mohran from Texas. Dubya country.

[vireo]

1. You may have stumbled upon Mark Levin

It's pretty disconcerting when he starts breaking in on Thom Hartmann during my evening commute. At least the days are getting longer now.

Hard to believe that Mike Malloy was once employed by WLS.

[riverdeep]

3. Yes, it's coming back to me now.

I had wiped it from my memory cells. I just went over to the website, because my blood pressure is dangerously low, and it's actually some fill-in named Andrew Wilkow. But this was the definitely the show. From their agenda:

"The taxation situation in the country is going downhill as Democrats are increasingly spending and taking more and more income from American citizens. Taxation isn't about funding programs - it's about wealth control. The Democrats will redistribute wealth only just enough to keep the citizen needing more entitlement programs."

http://www.marklevinshow.com/index1.php

What's weird is when you get to the intro page of the website, you're greeted with a lovely dog. This Levin dude wrote some book about a dog called "Rescuing Sprite". Probably the only thing we have in common, we both like our pets.

[Iris]

7. The DEMOCRATS are spending and spending?

That's ... er ... rich!

[BrklynLiberal]

2. They control the means of passing around mis-information....and intend to use it.

Ask Rupert Murdock about it.

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. Atmospheric skip can be both amazing and annoying as hell

I remember driving across I 10 many times and getting stations from Milwaukee, the Twin Cities and Chicago. I was driving across Ohio one time almost to WV and was picking up an AM station in Portland, OR. It happens on the CB radio also. I've listened in on conversations that were 500 miles away at night. A CB typically has a range of less than ten miles.

(I drove over the road tractor trailers for 20 years)

[KharmaTrain]

5. You Were Hearing WBAP in Dallas...Citadel Broadcasting

I used to get WCPT better at 850 than I do at 820..I'm closer to the 850 antenna than 820...and on the old frequency, KOA in Denver would creep in after sunset. On 820, it's WBAP...similar to WLS...and by Texas standards a moderate talk station.

The clear channel rule has been on the books since the 1920s when there were few "big companies". Those clear channels have been broken up for the most part as thousands of stations remain on the air at night. At one time the 820 signal in Chicago operated 24 hours a day, but the station was sold and when the transmitter was moved to its current location, the owners went cheap with a one tower site that operated only daytime vs. a multi-tower site that operates 24 hours a day...and then covering just a fraction of the Chicago area.

With the poorer reception on 820, at home I listen to WCPT via the internet on my Infusion Radio...plus I get the evening AAR line-up since the internet feed is 24/7.

[riverdeep]

9. 'and by Texas standards a moderate talk station'

THAT was moderate?!? What's considered extreme? I guess he wasn't talking about how the liberals are just like Hitler like Michael Savage does, or maybe he did and I just didn't stay glued like I should. I heard a clip of Savage chanting repeatedly 'Bomb Iran, bring our troops home now!' over and over on the air. Charming guy.

Lest people think I'm beating up on Texas, Savage is from that right-wing stalwart-San Francisco.

[KharmaTrain]

10. Try Religious Stations

I've heard some bible thumpers down south blame everything, including the heartbreak of psoraisis on Democrats and "libruls". Just pop around the upper end of the FM dial and you're sure to hear Dobson or some other "dollar-a-hollar" preacher openly blaming all ills on the "secular libruls" and other buzzwords.

There's a format called "the Patriot"...operated by right wing Salem Radio. It's in most markets (in Chicago they own WIND). These stations are non-stop right wing venom...Savage, Bettamillion Bennett, Laura Ingraham, Dennis Miller, Dennis Prager...radio guaranteed to piss you off in no-time (it and WLS are blocked on my car radio).

Cheers...

[Swamp Rat]

6. You forgot to mention all the Ron Paul ads, replayed 4-5 times per hour.

Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul .... like poisonous mushrooms.

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. Apparently, WCPT applied to the FCC for a nighttime broadcast permit

albeit at a reduced 1,500 watts (its daytime transmitter output is 5,000 watts), but I can't figure out the status of the application. Looks like it's pending.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=16849

Oh, well — here's a brief Mother Jones profile of Fred Eychaner, the station's owner. Sounds like a good guy.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/mojo_400/8_eychaner.html