RADIO
- Commercial Radio
- Public Radio
WYPR, 2216 North Charles St., Baltimore, Maryland, April 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Efficient ways to communicate messages quickly over great distances evolved over the years from signal fires, to flagmen in towers, and to more mechanized towers using wooden arms. In England by 1838, studies in electricity and communication merged, enabling the first telegraph design to use electricity for sending messages through wires over many miles. Thereafter, Samuel Morse created a faster, and much simpler, and accessable telegraph, as well as a translation code that would become international. Maryland was at the forefront of this new technology, and the first American commercial telegraph linked Baltimore and Washington, DC, in 1844.
As technology improved, radio towers replaced telegraph poles. The first radio stations served as emergency communication posts for government and, later, private companies, predominatly for the U.S. Navy and for nautical applications, such as shipping, and cruise lines. These early stations, however, were limited: the technology broadcast on all frequencies, and more powerful signals could effectively block less powerful ones. With further development frequencies were isolated, and frequency specific signals used. Thereafter, a commercial market opened, and the public literally could "tune-in" to radio.
Today, dozens of public and commercial radio stations operate in Maryland. Alongside them, hundreds of "ham" stations, run by amateurs (under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines), provide frequently needed emergency communications, which function when other systems fail. Among such ham operators are the W3ADO Ham Club at the U.S. Naval Academy, and the Anne Arundel Radio Club, based in Davidsonville.
Though primarily known for Maryland Public Television (MPT), the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission also is authorized to develop radio programming (Code Education Article, sec. 24-205).
COMMERCIAL RADIO
AM FREQUENCIES
- 560 am (WFRB), Frostburg (WFRB-WKGO Corp., LLC)
- 570 am (WTNT), Bethesda (AMFM Radio Licenses, LLC)
- 600 am (WCAO), Baltimore (Clear Channel Communications)
- 680 am (WCBM), Baltimore (WCBM Maryland, Inc.)
- 700 am (WDMV)
, Walkersville (Birach Broadcasting Corp.)
750 am (WBMD), Baltimore (Family Stations, Inc.)
810 am (WYRE), Annapolis (Bay Broadcasting Corp.)
820 am (WWWB), Frederick (Bonneville Holding Company)
840 am (WKDI), Denton (Bayshore Communications, Inc.)
860 am (WBGR), Baltimore (Family Stations, Inc.)
900 am (WILC), Laurel (ZGS Radio, Inc.)
930 am (WFMD), Frederick (Clear Channel Communications)
950 am (WCTN), Potomac (Win Radio Broadcasting Corp.)
960 am (WTGM), Salisbury (Clear Channel Communications)
970 am (WAMD), Aberdeen (First Broadcasting Investment Partners, LLC)
1010 am (WOLB), Baltimore (Radio One Licenses, LLC)
1030 am (WWGB), Indian Head (Good Body Media, LLC)
1050 am (WMSG), Oakland (Oakland Media Group, Inc.)
1050 am (WFED), Silver Spring (Bonneville Holding Company)
1090 am (WBAL), Baltimore (Hearst Radio, Inc.)
1160 am (WMET), Gaithersburg (Beltway Acquisition Corp.)
1190 am (WBIS), Annapolis (Nations Radio, LLC)
1230 am (WRBS), Baltimore (WRBS-AM, LLC)
1230 am (WCMD), Cumberland (West Virginia Radio Corp.)
1240 am (WCEM), Cambridge (MTS Broadcasting, LC)
1240 am (WJEJ), Hagerstown (Hagerstown Broadcasting Company)
1270 am (WCBC), Cumberland (Cumberland Broadcasting Company)
1300 am (WJZ), Baltimore (CBS Radio, Inc.)
1320 am (WICO), Salisbury (Delmarva Broadcasting Company)
1330 am (WJSS), Havre De Grace (Benjamin-Dane, LLC)
1370 am (WVIE), Pikesville (M-10 Broadcasting, Inc.)
1390 am (WKLP), Cumberland (West Virginia Radio Corp.)
1400 am (WWIN), Baltimore (Radio One Licenses, LLC)
1410 am (WHAG), Halfway (Main Line Broadcasting Company)
1430 am (WNAV), Annapolis (Sajak Broadcasting Corp.)
1450 am (WTBO), Cumberland (WTBO-WKGO Corp., LLC)
1450 am (WTHU), Thurmont (Christian Radio Coalition, Inc.)
1460 am (WEMD), Easton (First Media Radio, LLC)
1470 am (WJDY), Salisbury (Clear Channel Communications)
1470 am (WTTR), Westminster (Sajak Broadcasting Corp.)
1490 am (WARK), Hagerstown (Nassau Broadcasting III, LLC)
1520 am (WTRI), Brunswick (Tricasters Communications, LLC)
1530 am (WCTR), Chestertown (WCTR Broadcasting, LLC)
1540 am (WACA), Wheaton (AC Acquisitions, LLC)
1560 am (WKIK), La Plata (Somar Communications, Inc.)
1570 am (WNST), Towson (Nasty 1570 Sports, LLC)
1580 am (WHFS), Morningside (CBS Radio, Inc.)
1590 am (WFBR), Glen Burnie (Way Broadcasting Licensee, LLC)
1590 am (WKHZ), Ocean City (Radio Broadcast Communications, Inc.)
1600 am (WLXE), Rockville (Multicultural Radio Broadcasting Licensee, LLC)
1690 am (WPTX), Lexington Park (Somar Communications, Inc.)
FM FREQUENCIES
- 90.3 fm (WAIJ), Grantsville (He’s Alive, Inc.)
- 90.3 fm (WDIH), Salisbury (Salisbury Educational Broadcasting Foundation)
- 92.1 fm (WLBW), Salisbury (Clear Channel Communications)
- 92.3 fm (WERQ), Baltimore (Radio One Licenses, LCC)
- 92.3 fm (WWHC), Oakland (Oakland Media Groups, Inc.)
- 92.5 fm (WICO), Pocomoke City (Delmarva Broadcasting Company)
- 93.1 fm (WPOC), Baltimore (Clear Channel Communications)
- 94.1 fm (WQZK), Cumberland (West Virginia Radio Corp.)
- 94.3 fm (WINX), Cambridge (CWA Broadcasting, Inc.)
- 94.7 fm (WTGB), Bethesda (CBS Radio, Inc.)
- 95.1 fm (WRBS), Baltimore (Peter & John Radio Fellowship, Inc.)
- 95.5 fm (WPGC), Morningside (CBS Radio, Inc.)
- 95.9 fm (WWIN), Glen Burnie (Radio One Licenses, LLC)
- 95.9 fm (WOSC), Salisbury (Clear Channel Communications)
- 95.9 fm (WICL), Williamsport (Prettyman Broadcasting Company)
- 96.7 fm (WCEI), Easton (First Media Radio, LLC)
- 96.7 fm (WDLD), Halfway (Main Line Broadcasting Company)
- 97.1 fm (WLIC), Frostburg (He’s Alive, Inc.)
- 97.1 fm (WQJZ), Ocean Pines (Delmarva Broadcasting Company)
- 97.5 fm (WICO), Salisbury (Delmarva Broadcasting Company)
- 97.5 fm (WRYR), Sherwood (WRYR Community Radio, Inc.)
- 97.7 fm (WYRX), Lexington Park (Somar Communications, Inc.)
- 97.9 fm (WIYY), Baltimore (Hearst Radio, Inc.)
- 97.9 fm (WBEY), Crisfield (Bay Broadcasting, Inc.)
- 98.3 fm (WSMD), Mechanicsville (Somar Communications, Inc.)
- 98.9 fm (WSBY), Salisbury (Clear Channel Communications)
- 99.1 fm (WLZL), Annapolis (CBS Radio, Inc.)
- 99.5 fm (WVMD), Midland (West Virginia Radio Corp.)
- 99.9 fm (WWFG), Ocean City (Clear Channel Communications)
- 99.9 fm (WFRE), Frederick (Clear Channel Communications)
- 100.7 fm (WZBA), Westminster (Shamrock Communications, Inc.)
- 100.9 fm (WAAI), Hurlock (MTS Broadcasting, L.C.)
- 101.1 fm (WQMR), Snow Hill (Snow Hill Broadcasting, LLC)
- 101.1 fm (WWPN), Westernport (Santmyire Broadcasting)
- 101.9 fm (WLIF), Baltimore (CBS Radio, Inc.)
- 102.3 fm (WMMJ), Bethesda (Radio One Licenses, LLC)
- 102.5 fm (WOLC), Princess Anne (Maranatha, Inc.)
- 102.7 fm (WQSR), Baltimore (Clear Channel Communications)
- 102.9 fm (WKIK), California (Somar Communications, Inc.)
- 103.1 fm (WRNR), Grasonville (Empire Broadcasting System, Inc.)
- 103.1 fm (WAFY), Middletown (Nassau Broadcasting)
- 103.7 fm (WXCY), Havre de Grace (Delmarva Broadcasting Company)
- 103.9 fm (WOCQ), Berlin (Great Scott Broadcasting)
- 104.1 fm (WPRS), Waldorf (Radio One Licenses, LLC)
- 104.3 fm (WCHH), Baltimore (Clear Channel Communications)
- 104.5 fm (WKHJ), Mountain Lake Park (Southern Highlands, Inc.)
- 104.7 fm (WAYZ), Hagerstown (VerStandig Broadcasting)
- 104.7 fm (WQHQ), Ocean City (Clear Channel Communications)
- 105.3 fm (WFRB), Frostburg (WTBO-WKGO Corp., LLC)
- 105.5 fm (WDKZ), Salisbury (Clear Channel Communications)
- 105.7 fm (WHFS), Catonsville (CBS Radio, Inc.)
- 106.1 fm (WKGO), Cumberland (WTBO-WKGO Corp., LLC)
- 106.3 fm (WCEM), Cambridge (MTS Broadcasting, LC)
- 106.5 fm (WWMX), Baltimore (CBS Radio, Inc.)
- 106.9 fm (WWEG), Myersville (Nassau Broadcasting III, LLC)
- 107.1 fm (WTDK), Federalsburg (MTS Broadcasting LC)
- 107.3 fm (WRQX), Rockville (Citadel Broadcasting Company)
- 107.7 fm (WKHI), Fruitland (Great Scott Broadcasting)
- 107.9 fm (WFSI), Annapolis (Family Stations, Inc.)
PUBLIC RADIO
- 88.1 fm (WYPR), Baltimore (Your Public Radio Corp.)
- 88.1 fm (WMUC), College Park (University of Maryland)
- 88.1 fm (WYPF) Frederick (Your Public Radio Corp.)
- 88.9 fm (WEAA), Baltimore (Morgan State College)
- 89.5 fm (WSCL), Salisbury (Salisbury University)
- 89.7 fm (WRNV), Annapolis (U. S. Naval Academy)
- 89.7 fm (WTMD), Towson (Towson University)
- 89.9 fm (WOEL), Elkton (Marantha Baptist Church)
- 89.9 fm (WMTB), Emmitsburg (Mount St. Mary’s College)
- 90.5 fm (WCRH), Williamsport (Cedar Ridge Children’s Home & School)
- 90.5 fm (WKHS), Worton (Kent County Public Schools)
- 90.7 fm (WSDL), Ocean City (Salisbury University)
- 91.1 fm (WHFC), Bel Air (Harford Community College)
- 91.3 fm (WESM), Princess Anne (University of Maryland, Eastern Shore)
- 91.5 fm (WBJC), Baltimore (Baltimore City Community College)
- 91.9 fm (WFWM), Frostburg (Frostburg State University)
- 91.9 fm (WGTS), Takoma Park (Columbia Union College Broadcasting)
- 96.3 fm (WXSU), Salisbury (Salisbury University)
- 102.1 fm (WMJS), Prince Frederick (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church)
- 106.9 fm (WYPO), Ocean City (Your Public Radio Corp.)
- 107.3 fm (WMVK), Perryville (Department of Transportation)
- 107.9 fm (WEES), Ocean City (Edinboro Early School)
© Copyright Maryland State Archives