WAGL (South Carolina)

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WAGL
CityLancaster, South Carolina
Frequency1560 kHz
BrandingOldies 1560
Programming
FormatDefunct (formerly Oldies)
Ownership
OwnerB. L. "Len" Phillips Jr.
(Palmetto Broadcasting System, Inc.)
History
First air date
August 7, 1962
Last air date
November 2, 2014
(date of license surrender)
Call sign meaning
Weaving A' Greater Lancaster
Technical information
Facility ID51348
ClassD
Power50,000 watts day
50,000 watts critical hours
Transmitter coordinates
34°49′53″N 80°52′8″W / 34.83139°N 80.86889°W / 34.83139; -80.86889

WAGL (1560 AM) was a radio station broadcasting an oldies format that was licensed to Lancaster, South Carolina, United States. The station was owned by B. L. "Len" Phillips Jr., under the name Palmetto Broadcasting System, Inc.[1] B. L. Phillips Jr. died September 1, 2014 at the age of 77. The station's license was turned in to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on November 2, 2014, and cancelled by the FCC on May 7, 2015. The station's website is defunct. Because it shared the same frequency as "clear channel" station WFME in New York City (formerly WQXR), WAGL only operated during the daytime hours. Its transmitter site was located near the Catawba River, nearly 10 miles from its studio site at 101 S. Woodland Drive.

B. L.(Len) Phillips Jr. applied to the FCC in March 1960 for a License to operate an AM Radio Station on the Clear Channel Frequency if 1560 khz to be located in Lancaster, SC. Said license was granted, a construction permit was issued by the FCC for a 1,000 watt non-directional single tower antenna system, and work began on the new Radio Station that same year. After a lot of hard work and testing, WAGL officially signed-on to much local fanfare at 10:00 AM on August 7, 1962. The ceremonies took place on the grounds of the local courthouse and the Mayor of Lancaster was given the honor of pushing the button to fire up the Gates BC-1 Transmitter to begin broadcasting.

While radio Station Call Letters are not required to stand for anything, that was not the case for WAGL. Staying true to its textile town roots in Lancaster, SC, WAGL stood for "Weaving A Greater Lancaster". At that time Lancaster, SC was a major textile town for Springs Mills (later Springs Industries). At one time Springs Mills had the world's largest cotton mill under one roof located in Lancaster, SC. This fact had given cause for the call letters of another local radio station that had signed on in 1951, WLCM, "World's Largest Cotton Mill". WLCM operated at 1000 watts daytime on 1360 khz.

Realizing the need to serve the broader Lancaster County, SC area, B.L. (Len) Phillips Jr. applied to the FCC in May 1965 for a license to increase power to 10,000 watts daytime. This power increase would utilize a 2-tower directional array antenna system using 150' ROHN-45 guided towers. The license was granted and on March 15, 1967, WAGL officially increased its daytime operating power to 10,000 watts using a Gates BC-10 Transmitter. By doing this, WAGL became one of the 4 most powerful radio stations in South Carolina at that time.

Not being one to rest on his laurels, B.L. (Len) Phillips, Jr. was not satisfied. By 1976, WAGL was in its heyday playing a Top-40/Rock Format and topping the Charlotte, NC Arbitron ratings consistently. In April, 1976, another application was made to the FCC for an increase in power to 50,000 watts daytime. This is the top authorized power allowed by the FCC for an AM Radio Station. The license was granted and a new transmitter site was constructed on 15 acres of land between Lancaster, SC and Rock Hill, SC near the Catawba River. Again, this was a directional antenna system. However, this time it was a 4-Tower array using 170' ROHN-55 guided towers. On June 15, 1978, after much field testing and Phasor calibrating, WAGL officially increased its daytime operating power to 50,000 watts using a Continental 317C-1 Transmitter. At the time, there were over 5200 AM Radio Stations in the United States. WAGL was 1 of only 136 AM Radio Stations to have an FCC authorized operating power of 50,000 watts. The Continental 317C-1 transmitter was a true workhorse and was the last transmitter ever used by WAGL.

References[]

  1. ^ "WAGL Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.

External links[]

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