WGAG-FM

WGAG-FM was a high school radio station at Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, Florida. The station operated on 89.3 MHz between 1977 and 1981.

For the radio station in Princeton, West Virginia, see WGAG-LP.

WGAG-FM
CityOrlando, Florida
Frequency89.3 MHz
BrandingFM 89
SloganGreen and Gold Radio
Programming
FormatDefunct (was Variety)
Ownership
OwnerOak Ridge High School
History
First air date
November 3, 1977
Last air date
1981
Call sign meaning
Green And Gold[1]
Technical information
Facility ID49924
ClassD
ERP10 watts
Transmitter coordinates
28°28′15″N 81°23′15″W

History

On September 29, 1975, Oak Ridge applied for a construction permit for a new 10-watt noncommercial radio station to serve Orlando. The application, backed by faculty adviser and station manager Jack Howard, was approved in October 1976. WGAG-FM "FM 89", also known as "Green and Gold Radio" for the school's colors, began regular programming on November 3, 1977.[2] Its regular programming included rock, beautiful music and easy listening programs, along with military-sponsored programs and political commentaries by the school's student body president[2] as well as local and school news.[3] Initially broadcasting from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.,[2] its broadcast day was extended to 9 p.m. by 1979.[3]

WGAG-FM operated with an array of equipment donated by seven local radio and television stations, as well as donated records and lumber for construction.[2] Its transmitter had been manufactured in 1947,[1] and the age of the donated equipment presented issues at times for staff. The station, operated by the school's radio club, ran on a shoestring budget: $200 a year, brought in by selling doughnuts and clearing lawns.[1]

Oak Ridge's radio station, however, quickly found an insurmountable obstacle: a major change in Federal Communications Commission regulations relating to Class D 10-watt radio stations. In 1978, the FCC announced it would cease licensing new Class D stations and encouraged as many as possible to upgrade to "full-service" Class A operation, with an effective radiated power of at least 100 watts. The power increase was a financial impossibility for Oak Ridge High School, resulting in the closure of WGAG-FM in 1981 and the school instead pursuing the idea of creating a television production studio to be operated by students.[4]

References
  1. Roberts, Lisa (December 5, 1979). "Oak Ridge dials 89 for learning". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 7, 2019. (Continued)
  2. Buckley, Bettina (March 22, 1978). "Oak Ridge radio station has 15-mile broadcast radius". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  3. Richards, Dan (November 21, 1979). "Oak Ridge High School". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  4. Roen, Sara (May 10, 1981). "TV studio may tune up in fall at Oak Ridge". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
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