WSTL is a radio station

Radio station

Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...

 licensed to serve Providence, Rhode Island

Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...

. The station is owned by New England Christian Media, a subsidiary of Faith Christian Center, a large charismatic church in nearby Seekonk, Massachusetts

Seekonk, Massachusetts

Seekonk is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Massachusetts border. It was incorporated in 1812 from the western half of Rehoboth. The population was 13,722 at the 2010 census. Until 1862, the town of Seekonk also included what is now the City of East Providence, Rhode...

. It airs a Christian radio

Christian radio

Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...

 format.

The station has been assigned these call letters by the Federal Communications Commission

Federal Communications Commission

The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...

 since July 7, 2006.

1947

The station was started as a 250-watt daytimer, WRIB with studios at the old Narragansett Hotel.

1952

WRIB increases its daytime power to the current 1 kilowatt. It was still a daytime-only station at this point.

2006

Faith Christian Center bought WRIB & changed its format and callsign. The station was abruptly taken off air at 12:30 on July 7, angering many of WRIB's former time brokers. Some shows continue on other stations (e.g.: the Armenian Radio Hour is now on WARL

WARL

WARL is a radio station in Attleboro, Massachusetts. While its transmitters are located in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, its studio is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Its received signal is good in the town its transmitter is in but it cannot be received well in parts of...

) but others disappeared.

External links

• WSTL official website
• Boston Radio essay on Providence radio (incomplete)
• Armenian Radio Hour's take on the loss of WRIB
• Providence Journal story from September 9, 2006