WWJL-LP

WWJL-LP is a former LPFM radio station licensed to Brookville, Pennsylvania, the county seat of Jefferson County. Formerly operating at 95.9, this station has been silent since May 2007.

History

Beginnings as WMKX

The roots of WWJL can be traced back as early as April 1981, when Brookville's first radio station, WMKX, went on the air for the very first time at 95.9 FM. WMKX continued to operate on this frequency until the mid-1990s, when the owners of Punxsutawney-based competitor WPXZ decided to put a new FM station on the air in Brookville. To allow the 25,000 watt station to operate, channel shuffling among other FM stations in the area had to take place. This affected the operation of WMKX, which took the opportunity to acquire WPXZ's frequency of 105.5 and increase its power from 3,000 to 25,000 watts and cover a much larger area.

95.9 officially became available on March 3, 1997, when WMKX launched its new format and moniker "Megarock" at 105.5 in Brookville and its new simulcast station at 100.5 in Johnsonburg. With 95.9 now available, a local church decided to capitalize on the vacant channel while it was still fresh in listeners' minds. That opportunity presented itself with the debut of WWJL on a special LPFM license. The new station programmed a mix of Contemporary Christian Music, plus full-service news and talk programming targeted to Brookville listeners.

A time of troubles for WWJL

The following is a text taken from the blog of one of the station's volunteer airstaff:

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

We Need Your Help

WWJL 95.9's program director, Don Suhan, has resigned his position. Things here at WWJL are slowly going down hill. Shows are being cut because of no reactions from our listeners and no productivity happening. The station as a whole is wanting to make changes geared toward the younger crowd, just like Live Out Loud is based.

Not only do we need your prayers...but we honestly need your help. The station is looking at the feedback that our show gets during the show. They are also looking at the money situation to pay for the volunteers to play according to the FCC. If the station doesn't make a change soon, I fear that we may no longer have WWJL 95.9. I normally do not ask of this, but anything you as our fans, listeners, and family in Christ, please start calling us, emailing us, instant messaging us, anything to show the directors that we are doing a kickin fun time and am wanting this show/station to keep running. We are very very open minded to your ideas, opinions, anything. Phone calls can be of a shout out, request, or jus chat.

We are pretty much relying on you guys to help. Even if you are in a band, got stuff for us to give away? Great! Part of a business? Coupons, discounts, anything! Please just help us stay running and rockin for you guys and God.

Here is the ways to get a hold of us:

WWJL

101 Main St.

Brookville, PA, 15825

WWJL silenced

Below is a direct quote from an email the entire volunteer staff received in June.

"June 4, 2007

To: WWJL Volunteer Staff

From: Jack DeMotte, Chairman, WWJL Board of Directors

To all who have given of their time and resources to the effort at the radio station, I have to be the bearer of bad news. As of Thursday, May 31, 2007, we had to shut down broadcasting at WWJL. This will be a permanent shut down, and we will not be going back on the air.

This action is a result of a combination of licensing and administrative issues with the FCC. This is NOT the result of any action or non-action of any of the station volunteers. After much searching of our records, we discovered that the electronic filing of our station license renewal last year was either not accepted or not received by the FCC. This has resulted in our operation since August 1, 2006 without a valid, renewed license. This is in violation of the rules and regulations of the FCC. While there are severe fines and penalties associated with such action, we are hopeful and taking steps to minimize this risk. We have engaged the services of an LPFM Christian radio station consultant to help us wade through the process. Please pray for our successful completion of this process.

While this is the end of this phase of the outreach ministry that was created at the First Baptist Church with the help of many wonderful Christian volunteers, I sincerely hope and pray this will not be the end of your personal ministry and outreach to our communities. This has been a wonderful ministry, and I know that you have touched many lives with your many shows and moments on the radio. I pray that your lives have been enriched and blessed by your unselfish service to the work of our Lord through the radio ministry over the past three years. I am sure you have met many people, touched many lives that you may not have had the opportunity to do so without such a project.

There are to many volunteers for me to name without chancing missing someone, but I do want to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of Brian Winters as Program director, Ron Galbraith as Technical Director, and Diane Mohney as interim Station Manager. In addition to all of the time and effort each of you put into your respective shows, these people had given hours of their time and energy to the technical and administrative side of the station. I would also be remiss in not acknowledging the efforts of Carol Oakes in the solicitation of underwriting support over the past years. I want you all to thank the underwriters of the station for their unwavering financial support of our efforts. And last, but certainly not least is the Rev. Rohn Peterson who had the vision and personally brought the station to life.

You have all been a blessing to our community, and I pray for your continued success in praising our Lord, Jesus Christ, and thank you for your part in helping others to share in the message of his kingdom."

Aftermath

After it became clear that WWJL would not return to the air, First Media, licensee of radio stations WOWQ, WCED and WQYX, applied for a construction permit for the 95.9 frequency in Sykesville. That station is known today as WZDB.

External links

• Query the FCC's FM station database for WWJL
• Radio-Locator information on WWJL-LP
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WWJL