In 1918, 89.3 got its start as 9AMH. On May 6, 1922, St. Olaf College received an AM license for the radio station, the call letters "WCAL" were assigned and a regular program schedule begans, marking a transition from a physics experiment into a radio service. The station was authorized to operate its transmitter on 360 meters (834 kilocycles) with 100 watts of power for an "unlimited" time.
There are many stories, serious and humorous, about the possible meanings for the call letters:
- We're Calling All Lutherans
- Wisconsin Can Also Listen
- We Can All Learn
- Where Coffee's Always Lousy
- We're Caring And Lovely
In fact, the letters mean nothing–except great radio!
WCAL received its call letters so long ago that they predated the Federal Communications Commissions's (FCC) longstanding practice of assigning the initial letter "W" to stations east of the Mississippi River and the letter "K" to those west of the Mississippi. By international agreement, the USA gives its broadcasting stations call letters beginning with K or W.
Until November 21, 2004, WCAL was the oldest continuously owned station to keep its call letters. [http://members.aol.com/jeff560/chrono1.html]
